Although they realize that no one can ever know exactly what happened in the past, they are committed to searching all available sources honestly and thoroughly. In the process of their search, they keep careful notes and records so that they are able to return to sources they have consulted and to refer other historians to them. But good historians do more than simply collect information, however interesting that information may be. They try to connect their own particular stories to developments occurring in the region, nation, and world. Connections often result from asking questions, and good historians ask lots of questions.
Some questions are factual, and some are interpretive.
Even when questions cannot be fully answered, they can help a person focus research and writing and not get overwhelmed in a flood of information. And good historians share their findings with others in a variety of ways. In order to insure that their work is not lost, they regularly give copies of their research and of their source materials to institutions like the Wyandotte County Museum or other historical collections. They may also present programs, create displays, or publish their findings. Given the time and money necessary to produce books, they send articles to newspapers or to historical journals like Kansas History .