The electronic age is going to be hell for historians. Paper records have a reassuring physicality and a surprising ability to endure, despite damp, fire and dusty neglect. Nor are they subject to capricious changes in industry formatting standards. Barack Obama's battle with bureaucracy to retain his Blackberry is well known. He is America's first truly digital President. While his speeches may be recorded for posterity, and the commentariate's take on his policy may live on thanks to YouTube, the digital divide poses problems of its own.
How privileged do you think Lydia Smith, a first-year psychology major
felt when she found a thumbprint on a letter written by Lincoln in
1863? Smith is one of 25 students in a project, "designed to foster learner appreciation and intellectual curiosity." I'm guessing its succeeded with at least one student - try doing that with a Blackberry keyboard!
http://www.miami.muohio.edu/news/article/view/10917.html Image: 1. Lydia Smith with Lincoln's letter, 2. Lincoln's thumbprint Jeffrey Sabo, Miami University
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