Technology and the Historian
Transformations in the Digital Age
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21737244 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Michele N Hunt (corresponding author) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 114 |
| Issue | 3-4 |
| Pages | 149-150 |
| Publication date | 2021-12-01 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society (1998-) (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1522-1067 • E-ISSN: 2328-3335 |
| Publisher | University of Illinois Press (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.5406/23283335.114.3.4.17 |
| OpenAlex | W4285325295 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
If you were to ask three scholars the meaning of digital history, you would probably receive three different, but somewhat related answers. While there is a natural understanding that the phrase represents history in digital formats, Adam Crymble wants scholars, historians in particular, to shift their thinking around the varying definitions of digital history while evolving the language and culture surrounding historical research and the influence that technology has on the profession. Technology and the Historian: Transformations in the Digital Age, Adam Crymble's unique offering, gathers multiple histories from the evolution of technology and the transformation of historical research and practices.My background is in education and library science, so I was pleased to read that the book is aimed at not only historians but humanists as well. Educators, archivists, and librarians were involved in some of the experiences discussed in this text and went through similar shifts in workplace as technology became deeply rooted in our lives. The tone of the book is academic, but it contains the refreshing readability of a captive narrative history. In his thorough prologue, Crymble outlines the philosophy behind his decision for a chronological historical approach, how it will demonstrate the immense impact technology has had on the historical profession, and how historians can move forward not only with technology at the forefront of their minds but also with deep understanding of historical successes and failures within the context of technology so that future scholars can have meaningful and precise conversations about the goals and objectives of the profession. This feels like a tall order, but Crymble accomplishes his goals within the six chapters. The first five chapters each cover an aspect of historians’ work that was greatly impacted by technology since the late twentieth century—historical research, the archive, the classroom, the self-learning ecosystem, and scholarly communication channels. The final chapter is a call to action complete with guidelines for future historians.Crymble's thoughtful organization of the book works to emphasize several of his key arguments. He draws upon histories to explain why historians can no longer ignore how technology influences the field. In the first chapter, readers will enjoy the parallel origin stories of computing and historical research addressing the myths surrounding its history. Next, Crymble wants to remind scholars they must be aware of cultural differences when telling histories and that there is not one history of technology and historians, but many. Chapters two and three illustrate both of the previous points well through the retelling of the mass digitization era and how that monumental event transformed learning and curriculum within the classroom differently for the UK and US. Chapters four and five discuss case studies and analyze syllabi, familiar websites, digital projects, apps, and technology from the past. The adoption of these new technologies created wider interdisciplinary self-learning communities and transformed scholarly outreach. Finally, Crymble wants historians to tackle the vocabulary surrounding digital history and develop more nuanced and precise language so that it is easier to clearly communicate and facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations. Doing so positions historians as leaders in the digital history world, as they should be, even though it has historically been pushed forward by the humanities. Chapter six outlines what historians can do to achieve these goals and the glossary penned by Crymble is meant to be the foundation for cultivating clear conversations as well as “empowering historians to choose their words more carefully” (p. 166).The efforts Crymble has made with this book fill several gaps within historiography and the history of technology. Nowhere else can you find a collection of histories detailing multiple experiences associated with technology and historical research. Having no previous experience with Adam Crymble's work, I was left feeling that he is an author who understands the limitations of the written word, history, and perspective. Crymble takes the time throughout the book to explicitly state whose perspectives and histories are being told, even nodding to the often-untold contribution of women to the movement. The focus in Technology and the Historian is predominately from the Western experience of evolving technology and history and more precisely the stories of the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. This volume will delight those interested in the work of historians in the digital age and will give professionals in the field a new starting point for discussion and contemplation
Epistemology · Humanism · Linguistics · Media studies · Narrative · Political science · Prologue · Readability · Sociology · Digital and Traditional Archives Management · Digital Humanities and Scholarship · History · Law · Philosophy
| Citations per year | 1.33 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2023 - 2025 (3) |
| Highly cited | No |