History is about people, places, things.  It is who we were, who we are, who we will be.  What if treasures like Abe Lincoln’s Cabin in Lerna, Illinois, or the Charles A. Lindbergh Historic Site, in Little Falls, Minnesota, had been demolished — which, sadly, was the fate of the famed Pennsylvania Station in New York City.  What if there was no Monticello or Mount Vernon?  These locales contribute not only to the fabric of our culture, but also to the integrity of our communities — and they do this simply by existing.  

History, though, is much more than tangible items.  It is the story of who we are. It is writings, images, art, and memorabilia, much of which is donated to museums and archives.  However, of the more than 1.7 billion rare and unique books, periodicals, and scrapbooks currently in collections, at least 16%, 270,000,000, are endangered because of poor conservation. Of the 21,000,000 paintings, sculptures, and decorative art now in those collections, 26%, 5,500,000, are threatened.

What if these rarities are not preserved?  Quite simply, links to our past will be irretrievably broken.

History is important.

It matters.

That’s particularly so in a Steve Berry thriller. Always there is something from the past — lost, forgotten — something that continues to hold great relevance today.  As Steve and his wife, Elizabeth, traveled the world both researching and promoting his books, one comment they’ve repeatedly heard concerns the dwindling supply of funds available to preserve our heritage.  So Steve and Elizabeth launched History Matters to assist communities, around the world, with restoration and preservation.

The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works says, “Every day, the vision of artists, the identity of peoples, and the very existence of history all threaten to disappear. Left alone, old buildings will crumble. Documents will disintegrate. The photographed faces will fade away.”

At present, over 4.8 billion artifacts are held in public trust by more than 30,000 archives, historical societies, libraries, museums, scientific research collections, and repositories.  Over 65% of these report damage to their collections due to improper storage. Another 53% note a danger from moisture. Over 26% have no environmental controls to protect their collections from the effects of temperature and light.

It’s an ever-growing problem.

History comes alive when someone is able to not only read about the past, but also able to visit the places, see the artifacts, appreciate the images, read the actual words.  For most people, history starts with learning about their family or their community.  Imagine trying to discover your genealogy without anything tangible to search.  Preservation of our heritage is a vital link to cultural, educational, aesthetic, inspirational, and economic legacies — all of the things that quite literally make us who we are. History plays a vital role in our everyday lives. We learn from our past in order to achieve greater influence over our future. History serves as a model of who to be and who not to be — of what to champion and what to avoid.  Every day, decision-making around the world is based on what came before us.

Why?

Because history matters.

If you have or know of a historical project that needs attention, Steve and Elizabeth Berry are here to help.  Contact them at historymatters@steveberry.org and let’s see what we can do together.