Dr. Shelly Lemons to Publish Article in Upcoming Issue of Kansas History
Lebanon, IL (09/17/2021) — Dr. Shelly Lemons, professor of history, was recently informed that her article titled "How Word Got Around: An Examination of the Little Blue Books and Public Discourse on Venereal Disease in Modern America" was accepted for publication. The article is forthcoming in the Autumn 2021 issue of Kansas History as one of the journal's three academic pieces.
The article sheds light on Emanuel Haldeman-Julius's Little Blue Books series, inexpensive pamphlets that contained step-by-step treatment instructions to middle- and working-class readers with access to venereal disease discourse. It also examines the shift from individual responsibility for personal health to institutional responsibility through advanced medical care through the first two decades of the twentieth century, showing how the discussion of sexual health reflected the changing roles of individuals, institutions and ideals in creating the modern American identity.
The article has been in the making for years and has been a true labor of love. While she began the initial research as a graduate student, Dr. Lemons picked the project back up again in the Fall 2019 semester as she was teaching HIS 110: Historical Methods. "I made a deal with my students that I would work on a professional research project while they did their research projects," she said. "The whole point of this was to show them that no matter where you are in your career, the historical research process is the same."
Dr. Lemons continued her efforts in the Spring 2020 semester. Joining forces with Dr. Martha Patterson, Dr. Rich Murphy and Dr. Katie Alford in a faculty writing group, the four agreed to work on their professional projects, review their drafts and keep each other accountable. After the pandemic hit, Dr. Lemons continued to refine the narrative of her article and build upon her earlier research until she submitted a draft to Kansas History for consideration in July 2020. She also used the article once more in the Fall 2020 semester for a unit on professional writing and feedback for her HIS 110 class, in which her students read the draft and the reviewers' comments as part of their assignments.
"I am very proud of this work, and I am so pleased to be able to share its publication with my McKendree family. It really is a part of my McKendree story," Dr. Lemons said.
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