Historically:
* Scribes: In ancient civilizations, scribes were the professionals who specialized in writing and reading. They would have been the most likely to study written records.
* Priests: Many ancient religions had priests who maintained and interpreted religious texts.
* Scholars: In later periods, scholars, particularly those in universities or monasteries, dedicated themselves to the study of written records, including historical documents, religious texts, and philosophical works.
Modernly:
* Historians: Historians are the primary group who study written records to understand the past.
* Archivists: Archivists work to organize, preserve, and make accessible historical documents and records.
* Librarians: Librarians often have a strong understanding of written records and their organization.
* Researchers in various fields: Scientists, lawyers, journalists, and other professionals might study written records relevant to their specific field.
To give you a more specific answer, I need some more information. For example:
* What time period are we talking about?
* What type of written records are we talking about? (religious texts, historical documents, scientific journals, etc.)
With more context, I can provide a more accurate answer.