Those who work closely with historical documents can feel a sense of responsibility to the long-dead authors. We know something of the coincidences and mishaps that means one person’s written record has survived where so many haven’t. As archivists and curators our driving motivation, after our overarching duty of care toward the original artefacts in our care, is to see them being used, being published, being taught. We must assume that this is what the author’s wished for.