By William P. Tatum III, Ph.D.

How do historians reconstruct the past from fragmentary evidence? Join us for the introduction to this new series exploring how we uncover Red Hook’s hidden past.

“How was your week?”

Consider your reaction when someone unexpectedly asks you what you’ve been up to over the past week. If you’re like me, a sip of coffee, a few “hmms,” or a drawn out “weeeelllll” covers your desperate rifling through your memory. One day tends to bleed seamlessly into the next, especially in these “interesting” times.

Historians face a similar challenge. We ask them questions, expecting a polished, complete answer informing us about events that transpired before our earliest memories. There is little patience for gaps or best guesses, unless one is discussing known mysteries. Yet the records from which they can draw factual information are even more fragmentary than our memories of last week.