For the past few days I have been thinking ahout Catherine Clinton’s guest lecture on Harriet Tubman. In the beginning of the lecture Catherine indicated that her research proved to be challenging because Harriet Tubman didn’t leave a diary. She said much was dictated but there were minimal written records. I’ve been thinking about future historians and how they will capture our 21st century historical figures. We are innundated with communication via tweets, facebook posts, blogs & websites. Will this plethora of information make research for historians easier or more difficult?
Look at how Twitter is being used to track Obama & Romney sentiment in the upcoming presidential election. Most politicians have personal websites & use social media to connect with their consituents. I’m sure we will see lower voter turnout in the next eletion that people who actually “follow” or “like” Presidential candidates on the internet.
Finally, what is your written legacy? I know very little about my grandparents & great grandparents and often wish my ancestors left written diaries for myself and my family to read and explore. Have any of you purposefully started a blog or diary to convey personal or family history to future generations? The only thing I record are small anecdotes in cookbooks. After trying a recipe- I love to share who I made the meal for and if we liked it or not. Perhaps listening to Catherine Clinton’s assessment of how there is such minimal written information for Harriet Tubman may have sparked the same refecltion in you. What is your story and how will future generations remember you?
davemcintire
Great post. My father was a very interesting man and I have almost no information about life prior his marriage in the 1950s. He was born in 1914 and went to the same high school the Kennedys and House Speaker Tip O’Neil. As a teenager, he made money for school after his father’s death by being a pin setter at a Boston bowling alley. He was in the Army for 30 odd years during three major conflicts. My father died when I was in my early 20s and I wish now I had pushed him to tell me his stories.
Rebecca
Wonderful post. I recently purchased a DIY book to record my own history. I keep it on my night stand and try to answer a few questions each evening. This summer has been so busy I have not written much. You’ve inspired me to get back to my writing! Thanks.
janeapplebee
I too wonder about the huge amounts of information and whether that will make it more difficult for future historians to “know” us.
Thanks for posting the article on the Twitter Political Index, Shannon. I hadn’t heard of it before – Obama is up 10 and Romney up 1 (not sure what the unit it) since yesterday. I am not at all sure I like it but I am glad to know about it.