Eternal Persistence (Truly)

In the world of public radio, few shows have captured the spirit of intellectual exploration quite like "To the Best of Our Knowledge" (TTBOOK). As the team works on their final episode, set to air on September 27, they reflect on the legacy of the show and the efforts to preserve it for future generations.

The collection, now part of the American Archive of Public Broadcasting (AAPB) Special Collections, includes over 1,150 TTBOOK shows spanning 35 years. The team's search for the show's archives led them to some unexpected finds. In the basement of Vilas Communication Hall at UW-Madison, they discovered physical reel-to-reel tapes for the first 11 years of the show. Further exploration across campus uncovered more treasures.

Shannon, a team member, expresses a sense of delight in getting to know the AAPB archivists who share a passion for history, preservation, and public media. The collection, she believes, extends beyond the team, into the future. She finds personal solace in working on the TTBOOK archive, as it represents a shared mission with the public.

The TTBOOK DNA, started by Jim Fleming, Steve Paulson, and Anne Strainchamps, still remains, representing a deep connection of hearts and minds. The collection showcases a sense of wonder, surprise, joyfulness, and curiosity, regardless of the subject matter. Notable figures such as Jane Goodall, Salman Rushdie, Alice Walker, Oliver Sacks, Jimmy Carter, David Foster Wallace, Toni Morrison, Stephen Sondheim, Margaret Atwood, E.O. Wilson, and Yo-Yo Ma are among the interviewees featured in the collection.

The collection's preservation and accessibility were made possible by the initial funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the continued financial support from the Mellon Foundation. The "To the Best of Our Knowledge Special Collection" was launched on the AAPB, and the Library of Congress and Boston's GBH have also been involved in its production and distribution.

Shannon expresses gratitude towards their partners at the AAPB, noting that the collection launch was prioritized by the archivists. The last 14 years of TTBOOK are stored on two small hard drives, but the team's efforts ensure that the legacy of TTBOOK continues, and all shows are available for listeners, forever.

As the final episode approaches, the team looks back on the journey with a sense of pride and excitement for what the future holds. The collection is free and available for anyone to listen to, a testament to the show's commitment to sharing knowledge and fostering curiosity. The TTBOOK Collection stands as a beacon of intellectual exploration, a treasure trove of ideas and conversations that will continue to inspire and enlighten for generations to come.