More Noted Things ...

Hiram Hover wonders whether our book ordering practices for classes are not undermining our own interest in promoting the sales of excellent middle market books -- the kind of books that nurtured our interest in becoming historians in the first place.

William Grimes,"Heartless Robber Baron or Visionary Financier?" New York Times, 22 June, reviews Edward J. Renehan, Jr.'s "Dark Genius of Wall Street": The Misunderstood Life of Jay Gould, King of the Robber Barons. Renahan only partially redeems the reputation of one of the most hated financiers of his era, says Grimes.

In"Hope and Gloom Out West," New York Times, 22 June, Patricia Nelson Limerick suggests that partisan bickering has few answers to real problems that afflict the American West. In recognizing that, she says, there is hope.

There is continued reaction to the exposure of plagiarism in Bryan LeBeau's commencement address. LeBeau has won his own entry at FamousPlagiarists.com. He's over there with Stephen Ambrose, Iris Chang, Donald Cuccioletta, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Kitty Kelley, Rhashid Khalidi, Stephen Oates, Louis Roberts, Benson Tong, H. G. Wells, and other academics and historians accused of plagiarism. UMKC Professor Joan Aitken raises a whole range of questions, including the suggestion that there is plagiarism in another of LeBeau's on-line speeches. On another level, she expresses anger that"administrative leave" will give LeBeau a six month vacation and that the memo announcing it also said that his reduced salary of $128,500 a year is" commensurate with a senior faculty member in the Department of History." That is about twice the salary range of most full professors at UMKC, but try telling that to the state legislature, when it is his salary that is in the news. Finally, Aitken wonders about LeBeau's continued relationship with the Organization of American Historians'"Talking History" program. If he believes that the standard for oral attribution is lower than written work, she asks, should he be carrying the OAH's standard in the oral presentation of history? Thanks to The Real Paul Jones for the tip.

Jason Kuznicki will be hosting the Carnival of the Godless at Positive Liberty on 26 June.

Congratulations to Naomi Chana and the lucky man who were recently married. She will continue to be known as Naomi Chana, both here and at Baraita.

Finally, thanks to Ogged at Unfogged for the link. Cliopatria's looking forward to continued domestic bliss.