From RESEDA to ChatGPT, from FileMaker to nodegoat: Lessons from 50 Years of Digital History Research

Abstract

Keynote for the nodegoat day workshop, November 12, Prague 2025: Over the past five decades, digital tools have profoundly reshaped the way historical research is conducted, documented, and shared. This keynote traces the trajectory of digital history from the early database systems like RESEDA and FileMaker to contemporary platforms such as nodegoat and AI-driven tools like ChatGPT. Drawing on concrete examples, the talk reflects on the evolving relationship between historians and technology—how tools have not only supported research but also shaped questions, sources, and narratives. By revisiting landmark projects and technological turning points, we will examine what has been gained, what has been lost, and what challenges lie ahead. The keynote aims to foster critical reflection on the methodological and epistemological implications of digital practices in historical scholarship, and to encourage dialogue on how we might responsibly shape the next phase of digital historical research.