Julia Gaffield’s article, Haiti’s Declaration of Independence: Digging for Lost Documents in the Archives of the Atlantic World explores the significance regarding the absence of historically-enriched documents and the restlessness that can follow. Soon after becoming the second independent nation in the Americas, Haiti’s copies of its Declaration of Independence somehow disappeared. This document not only represented its origins, but provided a symbolic statement that argued and gave credibility to its independence as a nation. Even after two centuries, Haiti’s own Declaration of Independence remained lost, with no leads on its whereabouts.
Eventually, through vigorous research and devoted traveling, Julia Gaffield discovered copies of the document. This not only brought closure, but ease to the country that had recently endured a devastating earthquake. Though a great ending, this discovery brings to light the reality of other significant documents that may remain unfound. Over at the National Archives, (http://www.archives.gov/research/recover/missing-documents.html#pres) many documents are presented as still missing. Cases such as these re-emphasize the importance of indexing in order to close the gaps in history that continue to persist. Dr. Carl Sagan once said, “You have to know the past to understand the present.” Thus, without a past, one lacks a fundamental foundation to thoughtfully utilize for the future. In order to prevent this, archives become crucial in respects to preserving the past and the information to be learned from it.
As a result of Gaffield finding the two copies of the Haitian Declaration of Independence, historians became encouraged to conduct their research in new ways such as extensive traveling and caused new discoveries to be made regarding Haiti’s history. These positive changes to the present were influenced by historical documents and indicate how archives and proper indexing can be so important. A sense of reconnection can be restored by bridging the chronological gap that once stood, as is the case in Julie Gaffield’s article.
The issue of unfound documents is further illuminated by CBS’ 60 Minutes special which focused on the many national artifacts, such as the Wright Brothers’ patent, that have gone missing in the libraries and museums they were once held. Therefore, as individuals who learn from the past and thirst for knowledge, the issue of lost historical items becomes relevant to everyone. Those of us who have experienced and grown up alongside the digital age may take for granted just how much information we have access to. Not only is archival work difficult and fatiguing, but it places the archivist with a great responsibility of managing the world’s history and accurately documenting significant events. Hence, the more information that is archived and can be obtained, the more we know of ourselves.
Work Citied:
1. Gaffield, Julie. “Haiti’s Declaration of Independence: Digging for Lost Documents in the Archives of the Atlantic World-Vol. 2, No. 1.” The Appendix Combined. N.p., 5 Feb. 2014. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.
2. ThinkExist.com Quotations. “Dr. Carl Sagan quotes”. ThinkExist.com Quotations Online 1 Sep. 2014. 12 Oct. 2014 <http://en.thinkexist.com/quotes/dr._carl_sagan/>
3. http://www.archives.gov/research/recover/missing-documents.html#pres
4.Ho, Erica. “Thousands of Historical Treasures Missing from National Archives.” TIME. N.p., 31 Oct. 2012. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.