Historical Sources To answer questions historians evaluate, organize and interpret a variety of sources Primary Sources Secondary Sources

Primary Sources A primary source is a document or other sort of evidence written  or created during the time under study.  Primary sources offer an inside view of a particular event. Some types are: ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS (excerpts or translations acceptable) Diaries, speeches, letters, minutes, interviews, news film footage, autobiographies, official records CREATIVE WORKS Poetry, drama, novels, music, art RELICS or ARTIFACTS Jewelry, pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings

Secondary Sources A secondary source comments on, interprets and analyzes primary sources.  Secondary sources are one step removed from the event. Secondary sources are those records or other pieces of information that were created at some time after an event occurred. a book about the effects of World War I, * a journal article which interprets a scholar’s contribution in a field. * or other sources such as textbooks, journal articles, histories, criticism, commentaries, and encyclopedias. The passage of time, the lapse of memory, and the lack of knowledge (or ignorance) of the person providing the information all conspire to make the evidence less than reliable. In addition, an informant sometimes falsifies information for some reason, and that can throw a whammy into your research.

Interpretation We have a primary source, now what? Historians must take the primary sources and the secondary sources and interoperate their meaning. What is interpretation? Interpret: to explain or tell the meaning of : present in understandable terms. So what historians do, and what you will be doing, is to explain the meaning of the primary source in terms that are understandable. That’s the great thing about primary source; you are the historian . A picture that can be interpreted that uses symbolism, and many times comedic exaggeration to present a message or view point concerning people, places or situations. Symbolism- objects used to stand for a larger concept or idea Exaggeration – Cartoonist will overdo physical characteristics of people or things in order to make a point Labeling- objects or people are often labeled by cartoonist to make it clear exactly what they stand for. Analogy – Cartoonists will draw a comparison between two unlike things. Irony – The difference between the way things are and the way things should be.

The Art of Interpretation While the primary source is open to interpretation, there are still some guidelines that should be followed. Take other primary sources from the time period into account when interpreting a primary source. Remember that each form of primary source need different interpretation. Lets take a look at some images and symbols that primary source can come in.

Images and Symbolism

Images and Symbolism

Images and Symbolism

Images & Symbolism

Images & Symbolism

Images and Symbolism

Images and Symbolism

Images and Symbolism

The Art of Interpretation Some other things to take into account when looking at primary sources. Exaggeration Analogy

Analogy