Public Documents are the materials for the historian. Without such a collection he, however much inclined, can never do justice to a State. Not only this, but posterity can not have the means of judging, as it might, of the deeds, and principles of action, and of the legislation of ancestors. Thus the State that neglects to preserve its Public Documents, loses much to future generations-to the whole world indeed. A five-year study has documented that Virgil Lewis's 1908 admonition remains apropos to today's historical records.
Records are important to all.
They document our common experience and history as a people, protect our individual rights, and are essential to the operation of government. They provide evidence of our personal transactions with government and other institutions, including health care providers, educational institutions, and employers. Records provide the institutional memory of organizations, documenting their decisions and ensuring their continuity. Surveys were sent to state, county, and municipal officials who hold records and to historical repositories, seeking information about their holdings, conditions, and needs. From these surveys, statistical information was compiled and provided to Richard Belding, director of the Public Records Division of the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives.