Prashanth, if you do decide to write about the gilded age you’ve got to read Triumph of Conservatism and Railroads and Regulations by Gabriel Kolko. Triumph of conservatism is on the cusp of Gilded/Progressive but still offers great insight into the economic consensus of the time. Also how much of a bonehead Roosevelt was. Railroads and regulations I imagine will be more useful, but they’re both well sourced and comprehensive works.
Today on the Mises Daily:
How to Do Economic History
You’re right. The radical idea that people who frequent a small Austrian economics forum might have legitimate research questions, laughable! He should be using only certain sources. All original research comes from one place and it’s not the internet. You shouldn’t open up a discussion to the public they are all ignorant masses.