Resources! Primary and Secondary

Primary Source A first-hand source of information; someone had to be there Examples: photos, interviews, diaries, journals, letters photographs speeches

Pros and Cons of Primary Sources What’s good about a primary resource? No “He said, she said” or “telephone game.” Real-time information! Photographs What’s bad about a primary resource? Language barrier Sometimes the writer was biased.

Secondary Source A second-hand source of information Examples: Textbooks, almanacs, encyclopedia entries, some biographies, history books where the writer did not live during that time

Pros and Cons of Secondary Sources What’s good about a secondary resource? If it’s a textbook, it is usually fact checked by the publisher. Most textbooks are secondary with the best pieces of primary information (photographs, diary entries). What’s bad about a secondary resource? No first-hand account. Can be boring…

Where can I find some of these resources online and in the library? Online Primary: -National Archives -Virtual/Online Museums -Blogs -News Sites (when reporters are there) Print Primary -900 Section Online Secondary -Classroom Websites -Some encyclopedia sits Print Secondary -Encyclopedias -900 Section

Primary Resource: WWII Poster Taken from National Archives, Archival Research Catalog

Primary Resource: WWII Photograph Taken from National Archives, Archival Research Catalog