“I Decline to Play the Part of the Fish Dangling on the End of Your Line”: How a Blind Politician Led the Way to a Dissertation Topic in Educational History

Abstract

This article traces the author’s personal and academic journey to a dissertation topic in educational history, catalyzed by a chance encounter at a garage sale and a provocative letter from a blind South Carolina politician, John E. Swearingen. Initially struggling to identify a viable dissertation topic, the author discovered Swearingen while searching through archival microfilm of the correspondence between the General Education Board (GEB), a Rockefeller-funded philanthropic organization, and the South Carolina State Department. The discovery launched a biographical project that explored Swearingen’s life and career. The article blends autoethnography, historiography, and biography, chronicling Swearingen’s tenure as State Superintendent of Education and his advocacy for marginalized communities, despite operating within a segregated and racially oppressive system. It examines the methodological process of constructing a historical life from fragmented records and personal interviews—including with Swearingen’s son—and the broader implications for understanding masculinity, disability, and resistance in Progressive Era education reform. Ultimately, this narrative underscores how unexpected moments and overlooked figures can shape a career, illuminate injustices, and expand the field of educational history.