1. NHD Primary versus Secondary Sources
What is the difference between primary and secondary sources?

2. Sources
You must use at least 10 sources for this project. At least five of these sources must be primary sources.
So what is the difference between primary and secondary sources? Let’s find out.

3. Secondary Source – A source created using primary and secondary sources. It is not time specific.

4. Primary Source – A source created by an eyewitness or participant of the historical event. It is time specific; think 1st hand account.

5. Here is a list of different types of sources
Here is a list of different types of sources. Categorize each source as Primary or as Secondary by making a list for each type. Remember that each source may or may not appear in both categories
Biography Newspaper article Photograph
Speech Film / Video Personal Letter
Diary/ Journal Painting Autobiography
Magazine article Audio File Web Site

6. Biographies are always secondary sources

7. Autobiographies are always primary sources
Wow, she was a lot different then. Imagine how you will change in the next few years.

8. Newspaper articles can be primary or secondary depending on the date.

9. Photograph can be primary or secondary depending on when it was taken

10. Speeches are primary sources

11. Films / Videos are primary sources

12. Personal Letters are primary sources

13. Diaries/ Journals are primary sources.

14. Paintings can be primary or secondary, but are usually primary.

15. Magazine articles can be primary or secondary depending on when they were written.

16. Audio Files are primary sources

17. Web Sites are almost always secondary sources.
Remember search engines like Google are not sources. The results they give will lead you to sources.

18. Historians do not use tertiary sources like encyclopedia or web sites like Wikipedia.