Abstract

As historians start researching the late twentieth century, they are increasingly finding traces of the past created digitally. At the same time, use of computers to digitise analogue material means that many pre-digital sources have been reproduced digitally. As such, future historical research will increasingly include digital forms of evidence and computer-based research tools. This article explores how such resources might be used within business history, bridging the gap to digital history, and reflecting upon their methodological implications. We present a framework for distinguishing between sources, elaborating their differing digital characteristics and historical authenticity. We then draw on our own use of digital company records and media archives to outline two different ways digital sources can be interrogated by business historians. We argue that digital sources afford unique insights and new opportunities for historical knowledge production, but to access them, business historians will likely adapt aspects of their future practice.

摘要

随着历史学家开始研究二十世纪末，他们越来越多地发现数字创造的过去的痕迹。与此同时，使用计算机将模拟材料数字化意味着许多前数字资源已被数字化复制。因此，未来的历史研究将越来越多地包括数字形式的证据和基于计算机的研究工具。本文探讨了如何在商业历史中使用这些资源，弥合与数字历史的差距，并反思其方法论含义。我们提出了一个区分来源的框架，详细阐述了它们不同的数字特征和历史真实性。然后，我们利用自己对数字公司记录和媒体档案的使用，概述了商业历史学家询问数字资源的两种不同方式。