Moore, Carl Manford

Professor Carl M. Moore was an instructor in the School of Speech at Kent State University in May 1970. After the events of May 4, 1970, James A. Michener came to Kent, Ohio with the intention of gathering information for a forthcoming book on the events which occurred prior to and on the day of May 4, 1970. Michener interviewed a substantial number of people, including Dr. Carl Moore, during his stay in Kent. In the spring of 1971, Michener's book, entitled Kent State: What Happened and Why, was published. Upon reading the book, Moore discovered several discrepancies in the references made to him. Furthermore, he discovered that there were other individuals who also felt that Michener's references to them were incorrect. Moore and his students started a project to evaluate Michener's research methods. A questionnaire was sent to approximately two hundred individuals quoted by Michener in order to verify the accuracy of the quotes. The responses indicated that, in a number of instances, Michener had indeed misquoted and distorted statements given to him in interviews. At that point, Professor D. Ray Heisey, also an instructor in the School of Speech, was invited to join the project. Together, Moore and Heisey wrote a report that was critical of Michener's work entitled "Not a Great Deal of Error...?" which is present in the collection along with a rebuttal written by Michener.