When the Internet was introduced to the world, untold possibilities came to life. No longer did a person have to do research simply from archives or monographs in libraries. Now they could get onto a computer and look up information. This was not just for the everyday person though. Scholars could also use the web to disseminate their findings, whether it be through online scholarly articles or through more informal blogs and digital exhibitions. On top of this a technology was born to research history in a whole new way. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Valley of the Shadow
How Can Historians Bring the Past into the Present?
Can the arbiters of the past tear themselves away from it? This question repeatedly entered my thoughts during Edward Ayers’ visit to our class in mid-November when he discussed his role in digital scholarship’s advancement in the study of history and the current status of modern technological use in the field. His most notable contribution to digital history, a massive resource of primary documents from two counties on opposing sides of the Civil War called the Valley of the Shadow, has undergone remarkably little alteration since its creation in 1990 (aside from the actions taken to keep it internet-accessible). While prominent historians like Dr. Ayers press for the field of history to move forward with digital accessibility and digital research methods, they have been disappointed with the pace of change. Continue reading