OLD DIARIES ARE AT RISK. DON’T THROW THEM AWAY.
Though diaries may at first glance seem mundane and unimportant, they are very valuable historical documents. Compared to a variety of other historical documents, diaries are more honest and routinely generated. They bring us closer to ordinary people and everyday life as it was really lived than any other kind of document. Over time, they will become even more precious as a historical record and not just about a particular family or place, but of a time period and culture. Imagine if we had hundreds of diaries from Mozart’s time.
“Traditional history books are written based on sources that are often far removed from the daily lives and concerns of rural people. The journals and diaries of farmers allow us a brief glimpse into the actual lived experiences of people.” – R. Paranyi