Sure, clearly diaries would be even better being closer to the time in question, no argument there. Better educated than the average layman? Certainly. Than th

Sure, clearly diaries would be even better being closer to the time in question, no argument there. Better educated than the average layman? Certainly. Than the average history buff? Maybe. Depends on the historian and the history buff. Going through a degreed program doesn’t guarantee that you get some esoteric knowledge unavailable to the general public - it just usually gives you a really good survey of existing knowledge. It’s very easy for amateurs to get to the same approximate level of knowledge in many times and places. If they focus on primary sources rather than secondary sources, they’re often better off.