To my mind, humans - or at least a subspecies - are driven to understand
as much about the human condition as possible. It
seems to be related to our fear of the unknown. Since we cannot know
the future (at least our subspecies doubts this possible
with any certainty), and are usually doomed/fortunate to live in the
present
where 'knowing' is transient at best, then that leaves only the past
to inform us. And even though our view of the past is also
transient (because our point of reference - the present - constantly
changes), it is the best we have.
Those of us who attended the RBMS Preconference in Washington two years
ago spent an interesting morning at the Library
of Congress examining the question, "If we are unable to preserve all
materials with historical value, then how do we identify
what will be of interest to researchers in the future?" The answer
to this question would presumably allow us to better serve
researchers, our archives, and our civilization. This is a curious
mixture of the past, present, and future. Perhaps the real reason
we had that provocative and exhilarating discussion had more to do
with our own desires for a (false) sense of security than
any lofty, service-oriented goal.
Oops, I guess my own wind filled my sails. Thanks for the chance to
divert and delude my mind with a little episode of
'knowing' the unknown. Starts Friday off on an upbeat note.
Wayne Miller
Plattsburgh State U. of NY
From: "Scott, Kim A."Why do people study/write/teach history? What is the "value" of history? Bfore you go spouting platitudes about being "doomed to repeat" and all that, think about how one can honestly answer these questions. Unless I am terribly mistaken, the answer is near the core of this current thread on our beloved list. I have no answer myself; I only know that I like it, and that others who like it pay me to know about it and to find them materials that will help them understand it. They don't pay me to study the behavior patterns of guys with leather elbow patches, the effect of subliminal messages on reading room decorum, or the statistical analysis of retinal dilation displayed by folks gazing at the Declaration of Independence. I am glad enough there are people who do these studies, just as much as I am glad that I don't have to. Kim (does not roll in historical documents, but does groove on them) Scott