How is the history of a nation remembered? Well — it all depends on what you keep. We’re talking about recipes, old record collections, wedding dresses, newspapers, family letters or even your own personal diary. These are the types of documents future generations depend on to understand past American culture.


On this episode, Joanne, Ed and Nathan talk about the people who took it upon themselves to collect stuff they knew someone would one day care about — even if some thought it weird. We’ll tell the story of a U.S. congressman who collected his colleagues’ discarded notes and talk to his 21st-century counterpart — someone trying to archive the daily culture of the internet.