Using Sources in History

What types of evidence are there?

Primary sources are made or written at the time an event happened. The evidence that we use in History comes from one of two types of source. Primary sources are made or written at the time an event happened. Secondary sources are written or made after an event by someone who wasn’t there.

Primary Sources Primary sources are works created: at the time of an event, or by a person who directly experienced an event. It is the content, not necessarily the format, of a work that makes it a primary source. For example, an online copy of a newspaper from March 20, 1897, is still a primary source even though the article viewed on your computer was digitized more than a century after the article was first printed.

Primary Sources Primary sources can include: Interviews, diaries, letters, journals, speeches, autobiographies, and witness statements Articles containing original research, data, or findings never before shared Original hand-written manuscripts Government documents and public records Art, photographs, films, maps, fiction, and music Newspaper and magazine clippings Artifacts, buildings, furniture, and clothing

Secondary Sources Secondary sources are works that: are one step removed from the original event or experience provide criticism or interpretation of a primary source Secondary sources can include Textbooks Review articles and critical analysis essays Biographies Historical films, music, and art Articles about people and events from the past