Reason to keep a record, I see (5)
I believe the answer is:
logic
'reason' is the definition.
(logic is using reason)
'a record i see' is the wordplay.
'a record' becomes 'log' (log is a kind of record).
'see' becomes 'C' (the word for the letter, according to Chambers).
'log'+'i'+'c'='LOGIC'
'to keep' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for logic that I've seen before include "Dialectics" , "System of reasoning" , "using premises" , "Aristotelian theories" , "subject with 14 [ARGUMENTS]" .)