Writing

"Literature is a description of the life of the time during which it is written." While I have never forgotten it, I have modified it somewhat in, "the writings of the times are an author's attempt to interpret what they've encountered and share to the best of their ability."
During my antiquing years I developed a fondness for ephemera. I bought the remnants of an estate of a Rowena Huthchinson formerly of Salem, MA.
In it was her collection of correspondence with the diaspora of her family, descendents of Samuel, a great, great grandfather.
The letters were shared during early telephone times, but I suspect privacy was a necessity; justifying pen and ink.
Many letters were 30 pages or longer. Letters can be rewritten, as you noted, so I thought deeply about the intimations unexpressed as these shared conversations were very diplomatic.
Your attention to the transition of Americans to becoming truly American doesn't happen until maybe Emerson and Thoreau.
I bet you are enjoying your studies and I'm happy you shared.