Editorial Guidelines
Last Updated: November 3, 2025
HistoryLetter is committed to providing accurate, well-researched, and educational content about historical letters and correspondence. Our editorial guidelines ensure that all content meets the highest standards of historical scholarship and educational value.
Primary Source Verification
All letter transcriptions are verified against primary sources when available. We consult multiple authoritative sources including:
- National archives and library collections
- Published scholarly editions of correspondence
- Digitized primary source repositories
- Peer-reviewed academic publications
Transcription Standards
When transcribing historical letters, we follow these principles:
- Preserve original spelling and punctuation when historically significant
- Modernize spelling only when necessary for readability, with notation
- Indicate editorial insertions with square brackets [like this]
- Note illegible passages and gaps in the original document
- Provide context for archaic terms or references
Fact-Checking Process
All historical context, dates, biographical information, and significance statements undergo rigorous fact-checking:
- Cross-reference with multiple authoritative sources
- Verify dates against historical timelines
- Confirm biographical details with scholarly biographies
- Review historical interpretations against current scholarship
Letters are selected for inclusion based on:
Historical Significance
- Impact on historical events or movements
- Influence on political, social, or cultural developments
- Documentation of important historical moments
- Representation of significant historical perspectives
Educational Value
- Usefulness for academic study and research
- Relevance to curriculum standards in history education
- Potential for comparative analysis with other letters
- Illustration of historical writing styles and communication methods
Diversity and Representation
- Coverage of diverse historical periods and regions
- Inclusion of voices from various backgrounds and perspectives
- Balance between well-known and lesser-known historical figures
- Representation of different types of correspondence (personal, diplomatic, scientific, etc.)
Each letter is accompanied by contextual information that provides:
Historical Context
Background information about the time period, events, and circumstances surrounding the letter's creation. This includes political climate, social conditions, and relevant historical developments.
Biographical Information
Essential details about the letter's author and recipient, their relationship, and their roles in historical events. Biographical context is limited to information relevant to understanding the letter.
Historical Significance
Analysis of the letter's impact, legacy, and importance for historical understanding. We explain why the letter matters and how it contributes to our knowledge of the past.
Our blog articles about historical letters and related topics adhere to these standards:
- Research-Based: All articles are grounded in historical research and cite authoritative sources
- Educational Focus: Content serves educational purposes and provides value to students, educators, and history enthusiasts
- Clear Attribution: Sources are clearly cited, and scholarly contributions are properly acknowledged
- Accessible Language: Complex historical concepts are explained in accessible language without sacrificing accuracy
- Balanced Perspective: Articles present multiple viewpoints when discussing contested historical interpretations
HistoryLetter is committed to respecting intellectual property rights:
- Public Domain Content: All historical letters featured are in the public domain
- Original Analysis: Our historical context and significance sections are original scholarly work
- Source Attribution: When referencing published scholarship, we provide proper attribution
- Fair Use: Any copyrighted material used falls under fair use for educational purposes
We are committed to maintaining accuracy and transparency:
Error Reporting
If you identify a factual error or have concerns about content accuracy, please contact us at [email protected]. We take all error reports seriously and investigate promptly.
Correction Policy
- Factual errors are corrected promptly upon verification
- Significant corrections are noted in the content
- Updates reflecting new scholarship are implemented as appropriate
- Historical interpretations are revised when consensus shifts
HistoryLetter maintains editorial independence:
- No Commercial Influence: Content decisions are based solely on educational merit, not commercial considerations
- Advertising Separation: Editorial content is completely separate from advertising
- Objective Presentation: We strive for balanced, objective presentation of historical material
- Academic Standards: Our standards align with those of academic historical publishing
We value input from our educational community:
- Suggestions for letters to include in future updates
- Requests for additional contextual information
- Feedback on educational usefulness
- Questions about historical interpretation
Please send feedback to [email protected].
These editorial guidelines represent our commitment to providing high-quality, accurate, and educational content about historical letters. We continuously review and update our standards to reflect best practices in digital historical scholarship.