Primary Sources: Home

Primary sources were either created during the time period being studied or were created at a later date by a participant in the events being studied (as in the case of memoirs).  A primary source is either first-hand testimony or direct evidence about a topic under investigation.

They reflect the individual viewpoint of a participant or observer.  Primary sources enable the researcher to get as close as possible to what actually happened during an historical event or time period

A secondary source is a work that interprets or analyzes an historical event or phenomenon.  It is generally at least one step removed from the event and is often based on primary sources. 

Examples include:  scholarly or popular books and articles, reference books, and textbooks.

• Audio recordings (e.g. radio programs)
• Diaries
• Internet communications on email, listservs
• Interviews (e.g., oral histories, telephone, e-mail)
• Letters
• Newspaper articles written at the time
• Original Documents (i.e. birth certificate, will, marriage license, trial transcipts)
• Speeches
• Photographs
• Records of organizations, government agencies (e.g., annual report, treaty, constitution, government document)
• Artifacts
• Works of art such as paintings/sculptures
• Journals
• Autobiographies
• Memoirs
• Maps from the place or time
• Census records
• Documentary film (raw footage)