I guess here's my other problem. I don't think we know today what will have
historical value in 300 years. When you give something a retention period of
300 years, or permanent, or indefinite, etc., you are committing resources
on behalf of that thing for that period of time. So where there is a
statutory requirement, or an operational need that long, or a clear
possibility of historical or archival value such as a corporate charter, I
get that. 

But for the other 99+% of stuff, how do you justify applying resources to it
in the absence of those? It's easy to look backwards and say, "This shopping
list from a then-unknown junior Senator from Illinois is of historical
interest." It doesn't follow that we should save all the shopping lists from
all the Senators in case one of them is elected President sometime in the
future. I know that's not what you're saying, and of course every records
manager has heard the "we might need it for something" argument and has
already marshaled arguments against it, but still. 

Just thinking that this brings us full circle. If something has operational
value for 300 years, we should try to keep it. If there is a statutory
retention requirement for permanent/life of entity/life of
republic/indefinite/99+review, we should try to keep it. If it's clear that
there is the potential for historical value, such as the artifacts of the
President's life prior to today, we can have discussions over which parts
are meaningful (and should have resources expended upon their retention and
preservation over time). 

So in answer to your question, I'm not sure I can identify a record today to
retain for 300 years because of its potential historical value outside of
the very narrow exceptions noted. And by the time we get to where we'd want
something for historical value it's probably gone - not because of any
wrongdoing or negligence but because there's no reason to keep it. 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of myself and no other company,
organization, association, entity, or board of directors,

Jesse Wilkins, CRM, CDIA+, ecmm, emmm, ermm
[log in to unmask] 
(303) 574-0749 direct
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jessewilkins 

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