Reading
       * Letters
       * Diaries 
       * Journals
   of people who lived 
   long ago, helps us to
   learn about the past.
 

Letters

Journals

Diaries

Letters

  *The purpose of a letter is to
     communicate with another person.
  *It will often contain personal feelings
     or beliefs of the writer.
  *It is a more formal writing than a diary
     or journal.
  *We often read letters of historical
     figures in order to learn more about our
     history.
         This is a letter written by
              George Washington in April 1789.
 

Diaries and Journals

  *The purpose of a journal or diary is to
     record your own thoughts.
  *A journal or diary is not usually
     intended to be read by others.
  *The writing of a journal or diary is
     usually more informal than that of a
     letter.
          This is an entry from George
               Washington's diary dated May 1787.
 

Remember:

We can learn about the past by reading
letters, diaries and journals.