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Re: Unabashed fetish practitioner



Christopher Stanwood
Historic Reference Librarian
College of Physicians of Philadelphia
19 S. 22nd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 563-3737 x297

   While I do not consider myself a "historical fetish practioner" I will
admit an emotional tingle when I hold in my hand a book that was printed
prior to Columbus sailing the ocean blue. I "got into" history not only to
understand the past, but becuase I enjoy it. I like being around very old
books and documents. To me they represent a link to the past like no other.
They are a window into the soul of those who penned the lines. In our
collection we have a very small book published c.1474 regarding home herbal
remedies. It is partially illuminated, the first being a small image of a
15th century sheperd tending his flock, yet the text has nothing to do with
sheep. What prompted the drawing of the sheperd? I can only imagine.

Christopher Stanwood

-----Original Message-----
From: Wayne Miller [mailto:wayne.miller@PLATTSBURGH.EDU]
Sent: Friday, July 07, 2000 9:40 AM
To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
Subject: Re: Unabashed fetish practitioner



Kim,
I'm not sure how rhetorical your question was, but it's the kind of query
that gets my compulsive juices flowing (one graduate
course in historiography just adds fuel to the fire).

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

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