Using Primary Sources
Making Sense of Letters and Diaries
Producer: History Matters
Website: http://historymatters.gmu.edu/mse/letters/
In an attic or an online archive, coming across personal correspondence and diaries can open a tantalizing window into past lives. This guide offers an overview of letters and diaries as historical sources and how historians use them; tips on what questions to ask when reading these personal texts; an annotated bibliography; and a guide to finding and using letters and diaries online.
