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diary
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William Clark's expedition diary An open medieval ledger book with handwritten Italian text on aged pages and a worn red leather cover, attributed to Pepo degli Albizzi of Florence. Robert Falcon Scott Two pages of Andrew Rodgers's Oregon Trail journal from 1845, filled with dense, cursive handwritten text describing trail experiences and conditions. American Civil War diary
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William Clark's expedition diary
William Clark's expedition diary A detail of a page from William Clark's expedition diary, including a sketch of evergreen shrub leaves.

diary

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History

diary, form of autobiographical writing, a regularly kept record of the diarist’s activities and reflections. Written primarily for the writer’s use alone, the diary has a frankness that is unlike writing done for publication. Its ancient lineage is indicated by the existence of the term in Latin, diarium, itself derived from dies (“day”). The diary form began to flower in the late Renaissance, when the importance of the individual began to be stressed. In addition...

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