LeReginald Jones at the library
LeReginald R. Jones is a student here at Xavier University and a well known patron of the Xavier Library. An avid reader and superb writer Jones is often seen in the Archives or Reference Departments. In April of this year, Jones’ article Reconstruction: African Americans and the Promise of Failure was published in the XULAneXUS. Jones graciously agreed to answer a few questions about his writing process and library research and we have posted the interview below:
You began this project as a research assignment for your African American History and Culture class. When did you realize this could be more than just a class assignment and in fact had the potential to be a published article?
I didn’t realize that this class assignment had the potential to be a published article until about a year and a half after I had taken the course. I was looking through some of my old research papers and I remember I really enjoyed working on that paper and the topic. I decided to take a visit to Dr. Ronald Dorris to discuss the idea of possibly submitting the paper for publication. After a while he agreed to be my mentor throughout the publication process and the rest was history.
What library resources did you use to research this work?
I used a variety of the library resources. I utilized the library’s online journal sites such as Ebsco Host and Proquest. I also read a lot of books on the topic as well as the University Archives. Most of the information I used in the research came from Xavier’s Library. The Library has a wealth of information on a variety of topics, and more information than I expected on my topic of choice.
Will you continue to research this subject area in the future or are you planning to pursue other research topics?
I will continue to research this topic. The Reconstruction Era is a very interesting era and there are so many things that can be examined during this period and I do plan on pursuing other topics such as the Role of the Black Church in the Lives of its Parishioners and other topics relating to my major Psychology.
Where did you do the majority of your writing?
The majority of my writing was done at the library and the park. I love to write at these two places because they’re quiet and really help to get you in the mood to write. When I write I look for quiet places the quieter it is , the better the writing.
What part of this project did you most enjoy? What part was most tedious or annoying?
I enjoyed working with my research mentor, Dr. Ronald Dorris. Dr. Dorris was very helpful and constantly reminded me of how the publication process was a challenging one, but the end result would be rewarding. Dr. Dorris is a walking encyclopedia and there was so much information he knew on the topic as well as grammar, content, and what constitutes research.
The most tedious part of the process was the constant rewriting. The paper was rewritten 10 to 15 times. When I thought that nothing else could possibly be changed about the paper, I had to make changes and every time changes were made more rewrites were done. Overall the process was rewarding and allowed me to work with one the best professors I have taken throughout my matriculation at Xavier University. The process also gave me a better understanding of the era as well as a glimpse into the rich history of African Americans in the united States during a time when we were still fighting for so much.
