As we try and solve our problems today, we must learn our history. I’ve started a section on this site called “learning from history.” Although I’ve studied history, it hasn’t been systematic. I have worked closely with and managed (or tried to) some of the country’s top historians. I’ve managed 100s of projects in my life, but projects with historians have been the most difficult. They love detail. They love the journey. They are most interested in getting history right. They see how history distorted and their silent passion is to get it right.
The “History” section of this website is currently a resource posting site for me. It will evolve. I’m not qualified to determine if the history content is valid or not. The historians I work with refer constantly to “primary sources” and “interpretations.” They are often against “interpretations” unless they are substantially provable. I like that. In time, I will try and rely on resources that are heavy with primary sources.
There is a deep gulf between historians and the public. I’m a big fan of David McCullough. He makes history interesting – and historians are fairly pleased with the historical quality of his work. He relies heavily on reliable sources – often highlighted by paper projects (e.g., George Washington Paper Project). David laments that historians have done a disservice to our generations because they have made history boring. History is rich with drama, adventure, science, sin, breakthroughs, sickness, strength, war and peace. History is interesting and it isn’t fiction (or shouldn’t be).
