{"id":4717,"date":"2024-03-07T10:59:55","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T16:59:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/outofthestacks\/?p=4717"},"modified":"2024-05-23T12:13:03","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T17:13:03","slug":"works-cited-oscars-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/outofthestacks\/2024\/03\/07\/works-cited-oscars-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"Works Cited: Oscars Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Caroline Jones, Reference Archivist<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Works Cited is a series showcasing publications and other products of research where the creator used collections housed at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC). We trace citations and pull sources from the stacks for a look at the original.<\/em> Explore publications with a TSLAC connection by visiting Titles that cite TSLAC Collections <\/a>under Newly Added Titles<\/a> in our library catalog<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The movie Killers of the Flower Moon<\/em>, based on the book, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI<\/em> by David Grann, was nominated in multiple categories, including Best Picture, at this year\u2019s Academy Awards. The work tells the story of the \u201cReign of Terror\u201d against the Osage in 1920s Oklahoma and its lasting effect. The author conducted research in libraries and archives to find information and develop the story of this episode in American history. The Texas State Library and Archives Commission is named among the many \u201cArchival and Unpublished Sources\u201d listed in the back pages of his book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The 2023 film, Killers of the Flower Moon<\/em> was based on this book by David Grann, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI<\/em>, 2017. TSLAC Main 976.6004 G766k. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Unlike the film, the publication focuses more on Tom White, the agent sent to investigate the situation in Oklahoma. Given that White was a former Texas Ranger, Grann\u2019s research included TSLAC archival records from the the Texas Adjutant General Department, a rich resource in ranger history. In his notes section, Grann cites two archival documents at TSLAC:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

148 \u201cproved an excellent\u201d: Adjutant General to Tom Ross, Feb. 10, 1909<\/p>\n\n\n\n

149 \u201cOne wagon sheet\u201d: Adjutant General to J. D. Fortenberry, Aug. 1, 1918<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What exactly did the Adjutant General write to Tom Ross and J.D. Fortenberry? I conducted a little research of my own to find out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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TSLAC holds many collections of records created by the Texas Adjutant General\u2019s Department, including correspondence, military rolls, Texas Ranger records, and more. To locate the two items, I narrowed my search by the year and used context clues in the text. The sources are cited in chapter 13, \u201cA Hangman\u2019s Son,\u201d which discusses the life of Tom Bruce White, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent investigating the Osage murders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on the dates and the context of the documents, the most likely places to search would be the Texas Adjutant General’s Department Ranger records<\/a> and the Texas Adjutant General’s Department departmental correspondence<\/a>. After striking out in the Ranger records, I quickly located the 1918 document in the departmental correspondence. But after repeatedly searching correspondence dated February 8 to February 15, 1909, none of the text was matching the quotations used in the book. Since items may sometimes become misfiled, especially in heavily used collections like this one, I reviewed the whole month of February. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I discovered the correct document, the issue may have been with the type on the page. The letter with the cited text was actually dated February 19<\/em>, not 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Below is the letter cited where the Texas Adjutant General writes to White\u2019s captain, Tom Ross, saying that White had \u201cproved an excellent officer\u201d and he would \u201cregret to see him quit the service.\u201d (Click the image for larger view.)<\/p>\n\n\n

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Cited document, 148 \u201cproved an excellent\u201d: Adjutant General to Tom Ross, Feb. 10, 1909 in, Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI<\/em>. Adjutant General to Captain Tom Ross, February 19, 1909, Correspondence, Texas Adjutant General’s Department departmental correspondence.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As noted earlier, prior to joining the FBI, White had served as a Texas Ranger. The 1909 document cited is used in describing White leaving the rangers. The passage on page 148 of Killers<\/em> reads, \u201cTom decided to leave the Rangers altogether and marry Bessie. The adjutant general wrote to Tom\u2019s captain, saying that Tom had \u2018proved an excellent officer\u2019 and that he would \u2018regret to see him quit the service.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 1918 document is quoted to describe the supplies used to transport the body of Dudley White, Tom\u2019s brother, back to his family after he died in a shootout between Texas Rangers and deserters. Grann notes the matter-of-fact way this particular document is written. On page 149 of Killers<\/em> he writes, \u201cA Ranger report noted clinically, \u2018One wagon sheet, one bed sheet, one pillow, used in shipping Ranger White\u2019s body.\u2019\u201d (Click image for larger view.)<\/p>\n\n\n

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Cited document, 149 \u201cOne wagon sheet\u201d: Adjutant General to J. D. Fortenberry, Aug. 1, 1918, in Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI<\/em>. Adjutant General to Dr. J.C. Fortenberry, August 1, 1918, Correspondence, Texas Adjutant General’s Department departmental correspondence. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Tracing citations back to their original sources can add insight and context to the author’s work. The process is also a way to teach students and others how to fact-check and learn how to use primary sources in research and writing. Archival collections are preserved to help us understand the events of the past and provide the evidence for artists, writers, scholars, journalists, documentarians, and others to turn them into stories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to these archival materials, some of the publications Grann cited in Killers<\/em> are housed in our library collections. Subjects include Texas government, the Texas Rangers, Tom White, and the cattle industry. A few of these publications are shown below.<\/p>\n\n\n

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More information about these publications can be found in our library catalog:<\/p>\n\n\n\n