Newspapers vital to preserving history

To the editor:

Who will help our local history if there are no community newspapers?

While many people debate the future of journalism, local historians know that newspapers are often our only primary evidence. Though vital statistics may be found on the Internet, the vitality of a community is currently chronicled only in its newspapers. This has been true in my town, Kent, Ohio, since our founding more than 200 years ago.

Our historical society’s newest publication, “Rooted in Kent: 101 Tales of the Tree City,” is an anthology of columns by Roger DiPaolo, editor of the Record Courier. Stories of business, education, religion, floods, fires and crime, as well as those people who shaped and challenged our town, were fully fleshed out because of those earlier reporters.

Without them, who will chronicle our lives?

The largest national newspapers will never see small town life as their daily mission. Bloggers, like columnists, will continue their personal commentary. Who will cast the wider net? Who will help us remember our unique footprint?

As a local historian, I believe we must recognize this partnership of purpose with our newspapers and work to ensure that his chain will not be broken.

Sandra Perlman Halem

President, Kent

Historical Society

Kent, Ohio