Primary and Secondary Sources

Primary Sources “Primary sources are original records created at the time historical events occurred or well after events in the form of memoirs and oral histories.” Source: American Library Association, Reference and User Services Association http://www.ala.org/rusa/sections/history/resources/pubs/usingprimarysources#evaluating

Examples of Primary Sources Letters Manuscripts Diaries Journals Memoirs Autobiographies Oral histories Interviews Speeches Newspapers* Government documents Photographs* Maps* Video footage of event* Audio recordings Research data Objects or artifacts * Usually, but not always, will be a primary source

Secondary Sources “A secondary source provides ‘second- hand’ information that has been digested, analyzed, reworded or interpreted, and often combines information taken from primary sources and even other secondary sources. Secondary sources are often written well after the events they report on, and can put past information into its historical context.” Source: Windward Community College Library, Hawaii http://library.wcc.hawaii.edu/LRU/evaluating/primarysecondary.html

Examples of Secondary Sources Books with endnotes and footnotes Biographies Reprints of artwork A journal/magazine article which interprets or reviews previous findings  Conference proceedings Literary criticism Book reviews Most works incorporating primary sources

Primary or Secondary Source? A letter written by an ordinary person describing their experience of an event. This and all quiz questions from Windward Community College Library, Hawaii http://library.wcc.hawaii.edu/LRU/evaluating/primarysecondary.html

Primary or Secondary Source? A newspaper article reporting on events that took place the day before the article was published.

Primary or Secondary Source? Information sources such as raw data and articles that report on original research.

Primary or Secondary Source? A magazine article in which a staff reporter provides an overview of a topic, including a summary of recent developments in research related to the subject.

Primary or Secondary Source? An interview with your grandfather about your great-grandfather's childhood. Quiz question from University of Massachusetts Library http://www1.umassd.edu/specialprograms/info_lit/quiz_ps.html

Primary or Secondary Source? A chart from a government agency's website, showing statistical data it gathered.

Primary or Secondary Source? Photograph of Gettysburg, 1863