Page "Hubert Howe Bancroft" Paragraph 6

Bancroft published a well-known group of local histories.

Having formed a large collection of materials concerning the history of the Pacific coast, he then employed research and writing assistants to organize and produce statements of facts for large sections of a proposed general history.

Originally he seems to have intended to use these statements of facts as the basis of a narrative which he himself would write ; but as the work progressed he came to use the statements as they were, with only slight changes.

He said his assistants were capable investigators, and there is independent evidence to show that some of them deserved his confidence.

( Frances Fuller Victor, in particular, was a well regarded writer in her own right.

) However, his failure to acknowledge each contribution created doubt concerning the value of any particular section.

Overall, although Bancroft considered himself the author of the work, it is more accurate to consider him an editor and compiler.