Bonus: Answering Your Why

Every historian's journey surrounds the question "WHY?"

As you dig into your considerations concerning preserving history from where you are, take the time to explain why you are preserving this artifact, why is important to you now, why do we need this artifact in history from YOUR perspective and any other WHY question that you might consider.

Surround that WHY question with your perspective and as much evidence as possible.

Why do this? Well history often draws conclusions of WHY something exists, was said or was put in place based on best guesses when those questions are not answered. One of the things we can bring to the table right NOW is clarity concerning the choices, decisions and positions we take. We can do that with as much detail and insight as possible. For example, the first person who ever took the COVID-19 vaccine could be asked: "Why did you decide to be the first person to take the COVID-19 vaccine?"

Getting this answer and making it an unedited part of historical record causes the historian to have a clear answer versus drawing conclusions based on other external evidence. In addition, those administering the vaccine and counseling the person could also corroborate his or her story as part of that permanent record. (Check out this amazing story, "Meet the Woman Preserving the History of Oregon's Black Loggers)

Decades from now, their account is CLEAR and part of a direct testimony. While it can still be interpreted, the person's position on their WHY is permanent. So as you dig into creating artifacts, keep this question in mind. As we must embrace historical record from a "neutral place" as much as possible. Allowing historical record to convey its individual and often personal truths even if its an issue of controversy.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Why it is important to ask Why?

Five Reasons "WHY" is such a powerful question Why asking questions is so important?