(Could you pick one and give us a couple of examples of what you are suggesting
be done? That would help a lot in better understanding how your idea might
fit into the direction David is taking on his Ft Sumter data archive.)
Take the above topics, picked at random, from 2 lists of possible topics posted earier.
After digging thru All the Historical data, how does this group see the events Actually playing out.
Now...see how the questions are answered in either/both of the books, and paying close attention to their sources (especially as they may have access to material this group does not).
Did the authors get it right, or...are they wrong...or just somewhat incomplete.
David Detzer I read a short while back.
Kein I have on my shelf, to start, hopefully in Late June or early July.
Understand both books may be the best on Sumter and the start of the War. But, there may be others. And, one person's Best, can be other's, Worst! if it doesn't fit the other's idealogy.
The idea of comparing the event to whats in the textbooks and getting the text books changed will probably go nowhere. The Printers are trying to cram more and more history, into an extablished sized school book, that can be covered in a single semester. Not that All are poor teachers, but have you noticed that more and more 'coaches' are doing the history courses as in filling in blank areas in their class schedule?, and not "teachers".
And getting more people to study history, in any era, is becoming harder and harder. For some, Life, gets in the way, for others, its 1st introduction in school is usually too boring to consider learning more than what the class gives. As a result, and as you well know, fewer and fewer have any idea of this Country's history. In the next couple years, it will probably go somewhat, but...after that, will fall out again. To many Ipods, cellphones, computer games, to keep people interested in History.
Never the less, still sounds like a interesting project to embark on!