Egodocuments and history: A short account of the Longue Durée

In this essay we describe changes in the ways historians have valued egodocuments over time, looking at how such materials have been used in historiography from the Classical Age to the present. Autobiographical texts and similar personal documents are not only historical sources but also, during the period we survey, considered to be works of literary writing. Accordingly, we include the contributions of scholars of literature to the historical evaluation of egodocuments.
Much has been written about egodocuments and history, too much to cover completely in a journal article. While attemping to be comprehensive, our account is inevitably partial; texts, themes, and studies that are close to our specific expertise receive more attention than others. We focus primarily on the use of written egodocuments from the Renaissance through the twentieth century, and offer a provisional view of the historical issues and research agendas related to egodocuments and digital media in the present moment.
Throughout, the autobiography is the center of focus; other forms like the diary, personal letter, travel journal, or on-line profile are peripheral. Our research is Anglo- and Eurocentric. Therefore, this account is biased toward developments in North America, Britain, and Europe, while acknowledging the need for a more global perspective and comparative study that includes egodocuments in the global South and East Asia.