Abstract

Marchamont Needham’s unique role as a journalist in seventeenth century England allows for new ways of understanding the relationship between government and media during this time. While there have been numerous studies done on the print materials at this time, research into journalists operating within the boundaries of publishing restrictions is relatively unexplored. By using Needham’s work as a baseline for the three different research methods shown in my I.S., I am able to argue for the importance of understanding the wider historical and contemporary contexts of print materials. The heavy use of primary source materials pamphlets and newsletters throughout my I.S. demonstrates the different scholarly uses that the materials can have. In addition to a traditional research paper, I have used these materials to investigate the different biases and methodologies scholars can approach these materials with through an archive and in a public facing digital history project. While the scholarly impact of my work is more straightforward, as it works to reconsider traditional scholarly uses of primary source material, the contemporary importance of my I.S. is less apparent. By understanding the historical relationship between the government and the press, it becomes possible to better understand the current uses of media by governmental bodies to influence public opinion. Additionally, by making use of three different modes of interaction with the materials, I was better able to demonstrate the versatility of archival materials, as well as better explore my own interest in each of the chapters.

Advisor

Welsch, Christina

Department

History

Disciplines

European History

Keywords

England, English History, Oliver Cromwell, Seventeenth-Century, Print Culture, Print History, Pamphlets, Newsletters

Publication Date

2022

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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