Help Preserve the Past
“We interrupt our regular programming for a public service announcement”
According to Substack, The Obscure, Forgotten, and Undiscovered is read across 16 US states and 7 countries. Thank you for tuning in, wherever you are. Because you have, it’s a pretty good bet you have an interest in all-things-historical.
You might think there’s no end to finding original source material to illuminate obscure, forgotten, or undiscovered people, events, correspondence, etc. from the past. It’s true, the internet is often a reliable resource, as are brick-and-mortar archives of course, but the fact is “the future for finding the past” is at risk.
There is a widespread societal shift impacting the preservation and accessibility of historical documents. One example: think of the dozens of colleges that have closed in recent years. Wonder what happened to their archives and materials destined for their archives? Did all that paper — letters and photographs — rich history from bygone years documenting the “institutional memory” get tossed out with the last morning coffee grounds?
The same can be said for many other entities, large and small, that are closing their doors — sodalities, fraternal organizations, religious congregations, libraries, foundations, corporations, whole industries, and on and on.
What is the solution? Earlier this year I attended the summit advertised below, a gathering of interested parties seeking answers. Solutions may include collaboration, digitization, deep-freeze storage, etc. The point is: people are beginning to discuss ways to keep the past out of the dumpster.
You can be part of the solution. I encourage you to seek out, join, and support historical societies that address your interests. There is no shortage of such groups: your college, hometown, county, state, military, industry, religious affiliation, etc., likely have affiliated historical societies that would benefit from your support and you will own a share in the important work of preservation.
Here is a link to an extensive, though certainly partial, list of historical societies on Wikipedia. The menu on the left side of the site will allow you to drill down by country, state, city, special interest, etc.
There’s a line in The Glass Menagerie, the Tennessee Williams play: “… the future becomes the present, the present becomes the past, and the past turns into everlasting regret if you don’t plan for it.”
Let’s plan for it.
We now return to our regular programming.