Diaries are a vital
part of the historic record. They contain the private thoughts of individuals
and open windows to the events of the past through the eyes of one person.
Each of the sources listed below will assist in locating diaries by
date and by subject. Most will inform you of the existence of original
writings and their whereabouts. American Diaries: An Annotated Bibliography
is unique because it lists diaries that have been published. Primary
sources printed in books or on microfilm can be more widely distributed
and ultimately are more accessible to a wider population of researchers.
Note: A primary source document that is published in a book or
journal is still considered a primary source as long as the intellectual
content remains the same.
Bibliographies:
American
Diaries in Manuscript, 1580-1954: A Descriptive Bibliography
Similar
Sources to Consult:
American Diaries: An Annotated Bibliography of Published American
Diaries
British Diaries, 1492-1942: An Annotated Bibliography
The entries in
American Diaries in Manuscript are arranged chronologically and
then alphabetically within any given year. Each diary is listed in the
year it begins. The descriptive information provided about the diary
is brief and contains broad descriptions of what subjects the diary
contains. This source also lists where the original diary is housed
and contains an index of undated diaries.
