Spectral lines: The density (and frailty) of our history

Recently, when a writer who undertook an assignment to review the early history of the transistor approached one of the companies that had been deeply involved, he found to his dismay that little primary documentation had survived. Instead, he had to content himself with copies of press releases from the firm´s public relations department. Thus, an important record of accomplishments by the company and its technical personnel was lost to posterity.