Here's why:
* Personal Perspective: Letters and journals provide a first-hand account of events, thoughts, and feelings from the author's perspective. They offer a window into the everyday lives of individuals and their experiences.
* Contextual Clues: They provide information about the social, political, and cultural context of the time period they were written in. This helps historians understand the broader historical landscape.
* Authenticity: While authenticity can be questioned, letters and journals are often considered more authentic than secondary sources as they are written by individuals directly involved in the events.
However, it's important to remember that:
* Subjectivity: Letters and journals are subjective accounts influenced by the author's biases, beliefs, and personal experiences.
* Selectivity: Individuals may choose to omit certain details or events, making the information presented incomplete.
* Bias: Authors may consciously or unconsciously present information in a way that favors their own perspective.
Despite these limitations, letters and journals remain vital tools for historians. By carefully analyzing them and considering the author's context and biases, historians can glean valuable information about the past.