Issues in Developing a SLIS Master's Thesis: 'Containing Obscenity: The Gathings Committee, Moral Crusades, and Paperback Books' (2011) as a Case Study

King Library 213

This presentation examines the practice of historical-based research through a review of developing the SLIS master's thesis "Containing Obscenity: The Gathings Committee, Moral Crusades, and Paperback Books." The thesis studies the U.S. House of Representatives 1952 Select Committee on Current Pornographic Materials (Gathings Committee), which arose out of popular debates over obscenity and mass-market literature but resulted in no successful obscenity legislation or legal challenges. Informed by book history, sociology, and cultural studies, the thesis provides the first book-length analysis of the committee, using archival materials, government documents, and mass media to situate the committee within its historical context. This presentation recounts the conceptualization, research process, and construction of the thesis to highlight particular issues and challenges in preparing a large research project.