Understanding human impact on the environment requires a long-term view and innovative use of historical records to obtain data about the past. Current projects (for example Old Weather: Whaling) that illustrate new ways to use historical records will be highlighted. Such projects involve forming partnerships that can include government agencies, universities, archives and museums. "Citizen science" is often a feature of such projects and helps to extend environmental literacy. Museums have often served as anchor institutions for past records.
Results/Conclusions
Just as 19th-century records preserved in museums are being used today to understand changes in climate and biodiversity, so we should be thinking today of what records to preserve for future use and how to make data available through digitization and other means. Long-Term Ecological Research projects form one class of candidates where preservation of a historical record will be important for future use. We should be thinking of how to form partnerships that will ensure preservation of and access to such materials in the future. Possibly existing institutions, such as museums, can continue their roles as repositories and anchors for such partnerships, but other kinds of institutions and partnerships could be envisioned.