This module will introduce students to the ways historians have used personal letters and diaries to support their interpretation of historical events and social change. Students will examine the tradition of letter writing and diary keeping in Britain and, to a lesser extent, in Europe, from the 17th century onward. Seminars will explore questions related to the 'truthfulness' of seemingly private documents, the 'public' nature of some private diaries, and the way in which even candid communications have at times left important things unsaid. Instances of letters and diaries having been used by historians to 'prove' contentious arguments in the arenas of social and political history will be explored, as will concerns about whether private communication in the post-paper age will continue to be as rich a source for historical researchers. Will emails and blogs successfully replace letters and diaries, or is the golden age of private communication over? Assignments will require students to identify and work with archival collections, including those held by the National Library of Wales.

Historians have long found personal letters and diaries an invaluable source for research. Letters and diaries have often played a central role in establishing the timing and/or detail of significant historical events. Letters and diaries have also frequently been employed by historians to examine the complexity and/or contradictory nature of social or political change. Although the use of letters and diaries can be argued to be almost commonplace in historical research it is not without its pitfalls. Difficulties include the interpretation of private communications, dealing with physical and/or linguistic irregularities, and the challenge of integrating evidence from letters and diaries with wider historical contexts. A key feature of this module will be to explore how historians have successfully made use of letters and diaries, and to address the subtleties inherent in such use.