A diary is a personal document, just like a letter or memoirs. Personal documents are interesting sources for treasure hunting research because they offer a personal view of events.
In the case of diaries, the events are recorded spontaneously by the writer while they are still fresh in his or her memory. They are thus not distorted by later events or opinions.
All the same, caution still has to be observed when using personal documents as a historical source. The very fact that the diarist is so close to the events can lead to a failure to see the wider context.
Moreover, a researcher must always be aware of the fact that diaries are a subjective representation of reality and only express the thoughts of the writer at isolated moments in time.
It is also important to realise that the diaries often present the conditions in a more positive light than they actually were.
Why is this? In the first place, it is noticeable that the possibility or even intention that others – relatives or loved ones – might read the diary made the diarists adopt a more positive tone.
Besides, there was also a measure of self-protection. A diarist explains it as follows: ‘You collapse if you give way too much to emotions. You see such misery every day.’
Another reason for self-censorship was the fact that keeping a diary may have been prohibited. The very worst was not written down from fear of what might happen if the diary fell into enemy hands.
Besides all this, it should not be forgotten that ‘to live in hope’ certainly applied to the diarists too. The diaries express this hope of an end to whatever they are going through, of a better life, which also gives the content a certain optimistic character.
Diaries can be used to get clues that may require further investigation. Or in some cases they may even pinpoint a treasure exactly. Many are fun to read and give you a glance in time at the places, conditions, people and mindset of a particular area.
There are many sources to begin your search; old bookstores, libraries, museums and historical societies are great places to start. Or try a few of these online sources.
American Life Histories (LOC)
First Person narratives of the American South
Cyndi’s Genealogical Diary Resources
Letters and Diaries from John Hopkins Library
Diaries (Google Books)
Letters (Google Books)
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