Reconsidering the migrant letter: from the experience of migrants to the language of migrants

Abstract

Following a century of scholarly attention, the migrant letter, whether written by family members, lovers, friends, or others, is a document that continues to attract the attention of scholars and general readers. Over time, the study of migrant letters has developed in myriad directions. It has adopted methodologies ranging from the publication of complete collections and excerpts to the close analytical and computational readings of letters and their authors examined through the lens of gender, identity, family, and emotions. Regardless of the methodology, the history of migrant letters remains tied to the history of the family. This introduction presents an overview of the historiographical evolution of the study of migrant letters from the early twentieth-century onwards. It highlights the ways in which this Special Issue contributes to the discussion by exploring the connection between the practice of letter writing and the emotional, transnational, economic, and familial experiences of individuals separated by migration.