Bass is wise to acknowledge that the "national memory" will be involved in the change in our ability to access primary materials but also our modes of harnessing this material. Not only will this affect the role of the scholar, as he suggests, but also the identity of the scholar.  This is evident in the proliferation of amateur archive sites such as 'The Fifties' Web'.  Both of these type of sites will be involved in memory projects since they are a repository for cultural artefacts, but also by virtue of their accessibility through the web.

The NDN is an important part of America's public record since it is a large archive and was also created as part of the public works scheme of FDR, involved since its inception with showing the different faces of Americans.  The construction of the website and digitalisation of the archive, have privileged classifying categories which have been given to the sources only recently.  Therefore, selection of sources by the user is largely based on these categories, which may identify themes such as ethnicity, gender, labour or may not.  This means that current issues in history are likely to influence the choice of sources through this directed navigation, and potentially the way they are viewed (i.e. relating only to a specific topic).  This has further implications for the perception of America which is encouraged by the site, especially since student users are a focus.

'The Fifties' Web' more clearly encourages and sets about to re-create the popular memory of the fifties.   For the most part, this is a memory closely linked to the stereotypical view of the 1950s and therefore decreases the problematisation of historical experience.  The narrative voice is strong, which despite being personal and clearly expressing an opinion, is blended with 'objective' analysis, which creates an authoritarian tone.  Furthermore, many of the original sources are presented in tabular form, or as textual summaries.  In this way the electronic format is used to stabilise rather than destabilise the text, which means that access to (your own) conflicting interpretations of the original source is often denied.

Selection of sources in themselves is influenced by memory in 'The Fifties' Web'.  Therefore the site does not supply an accurate view of the fifties as it was lived, since retrospective analysis is clearly involved.  For example, a table of songs and artists was preceded by the caption 'among the most popular and best remembered songs of 1955'.  And another selection of songs were described as: 'Although these songs may not have stayed atop the charts as long as the previous group, they have endured. I know you'll also remember...'.  But, it goes unsaid who remembers these songs, why they remember these songs and when they were remembered?  Furthermore, throughout the site, is omitted the memories of those who enjoyed music such as jazz, or other cultural forms on the fringe.  A whole section, though, is devoted to 'Dead People', who it is vowed may be 'gone but not forgotten'.

Relating the website back to its purpose, which seems to be a nostalgic look at these times, rather than academic history, our judgement cannot be harsh, but interpretation of these sites and sources must be carefully undertaken.  What's more, oral history and the issue of memory and history are burgeoning areas of historical research.  This type of site provides key data about the memory of the fifties, but also about the uses in the past in the present, since much of the site is constructed from a contemporary perspective.  Website users are invited to become involved with the site, through leaving messages, playing games or contributing to sections.  Whilst this is not entirely interactive, this is still utilising the some of the abilities of hypertext in allowing feedback to become part of the site.  The message board is actually quite active which reinforces the site as a direct re-living of memories.  For instance Rosie's message is an example of the interplay surrounding memories on the site:
 
"RE: Sunday drives"

BOY I GUESS WE ALL SHOW OUR AGE WHEN WE REMEMBER THINGS LIKE THIS. THOSE SUNDAY DRIVES WERE UNTIL YOU WERE A TEEN AND THERE WAS NO GETTING OUT OF IT. MY FATHER HAD AN AUNT THAT LIVED IN MANHATTEN, MY BROTHER AND I WOULD GO TO THE STORE ON THE CORNER, AND COME BACK AND GO UP AND DOWN ON THE ELEVATOR, AND AT THE TIME THAT WAS FUN! AND I GUESS GROWING UP IN THE LATE 40, EARLY 50, PARENTS ALL THOUGHT THE SAME, COUNTRY DRIVES, GO TO THE FAIRS,OLYMPIC PARK IN MAPLEWOOD N. J., AND OF COURSE THE ICE CREAM ON THE WAY HOME. AND ANOTHER THING, GOING TO THE BAKERY ON A SUNDAY MORNING FOR BUNS, BREAD AND ROLL, EVERY SUNDAY, NOW THIS GENERATION GO TO THE BAGEL SHOP!

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