Like the title says, I am looking for sources on letters. I am mostly interested in comparing what used to be written to what is written today (for example with e-mails and instant messaging taking over the function of the letter). I am also interested in the differences in how letters were written in the past vs now. Could you point me to some useful, but low level (high school) sources?
I need to write a short paper (2-4 pages) on the letter and I plan on focussing on developments in the history of the letter. It is quite obvious that the letters Plinius and Cicero wrote were very different from the letters that are written today and that the letter has lost a lot of popularity, as people prefer using faster, easier and more casual forms of communication (e-mails, texts, phone, instant messaging). But I don't know enough about the subject to write anything meaningful on it, which is why I'm looking for sources to get started. Any suggestions? Please keep in mind that I'm still in high school, so many sources might be a bit too advanced for me. Also, I'm Dutch and don't have access to a lot of books, so I would prefer websites as sources. If you have interesting ideas to share about (the history of) letters, please post them as well!
This one was a bit of a toughie to track down actually, but the main library subject heading you want for sources on this topic is Letter writing - History. There are other ones that might suit, like the studies of ancient letters are under "Epistolography." I'd suggest you go to your local public library and ask the reference librarian for help, most books in the nonfiction section of a public library are well within the range of a junior/senior high schooler who is a good reader, which I'm guessing you are. :) You should also see if the library has a general book on communication studies, something like this, as I think this is more what you'e getting at with the evolution of letters into emails and phones. Good luck with your paper! :)