This guest post is by Tom Ewing, professor of history at Virginia Tech. He discusses his research on epidemics as covered in late 19th and early 20th century newspapers that are digitized in the Chronicling America online collection. Serial and Government Publications Division digital conversion specialist Robin Butterhof coordinated this post.
Describe your research and the kinds of primary sources you use.
My research examines the history of epidemics, with particular emphasis on the Russian influenza (1889-1890) and the Spanish influenza (1918). For both of these projects, I work with historical newspapers, especially the American daily and weekly newspapers available in Chronicling America,* as well as international newspapers from other databases. I also work with medical journals available from the National Library of Medicine, HathiTrust, and the Medical Heritage Library, and statistical collections, including US Census documents and annual reports from states and cities.
In the case of the Russian influenza, newspapers began reporting on widespread cases of “la grippe” in St. Petersburg in November 1889, and then tracked similar outbreaks across Europe, the United States, and the rest of the world in early 1890. In the summer of 1918, unusually high numbers of sickness in Spain were reported by newspapers in Europe and the United States, which led to the name “Spanish influenza.” In studying these two epidemics, I use primary sources to illustrate how each epidemic developed over time and how physicians, health officials, and the public responded to the spread of disease. My research on epidemics has been published in medical journals, computer science journals, blogs, and newspapers. My research has also informed my teaching at Virginia Tech and resulted in a seminar on influenza for K-12 teachers funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
What is the most interesting item you found in Chronicling America related to this research?
I’m interested in the relationship between expert knowledge and public understanding of epidemics at different stages, from the first reports through the peak numbers of cases and deaths, to the gradual recovery from the heaviest tolls. Beginning the second week in October 1918, just as the influenza epidemic was peaking in most communities, newspapers all over the United States published an explanation of this new disease, mostly under the headline: “Uncle Sam’s Advice on Flu.”