Primary & Secondary Sources

Why should multiple sources be used when examining an event?

What is a Primary SourcePrimary sources are the

documents, letters, diaries, magazines, photos, films, etc from specific historical periods.

Primary sources are produced by the people who participated in and witnessed an event.

Primary sources offer a variety of points of view and perspectives of events, issues, people, and places.

What is a Primary SourceThe important thing to remember when using

a primary source is that it was created by someone with firsthand experience of an event and usually only provides their individual perspective or view point of an event.

Examples of Primary SourcesPrimary sources are not

just documents and written records. There are many different kinds of primary sources, including: first-person accounts, documents, physical artifacts, scientific data that has been collected but not interpreted, and face-to-face mentors with specific knowledge or expertise.

Examples of Primary Sources

Primary sources give a direct line into the time being studied

Audio – oral histories or memoirs, interviews, music

Images – photographs, videos, film

Objects – Clothing (fashion or uniforms), tools, pottery, gravestones, inventions, weapons, memorabilia

Statistics – Census data, weather records

Text – letters, diaries, legal agreements, treaties, maps, advertisements

What is a Secondary SourceSecondary sources are sources that were

produced after an event took place.

Secondary sources are created by someone who usually uses primary sources for their information.

Secondary sources have their place in historical study because they provide a general overview of an event from different viewpoints or perspectives

What is a Secondary SourceSecondary sources

can be valuable. For example, there are no photos of George Washington available, so paintings are used instead to determine what he looked like.

Examples of Secondary SourcesTextbooks are

excellent examples of secondary sources.

A television show about the Columbus journey is a secondary source since there were no cameras in 1492.

Examples of Secondary SourcesDrawings, paintings, movies, and music made years after an event are secondary sources.

Encyclopedia entries and books written about specific events are also secondary sources.

ResearchWhen studying or researching an event or

person it is BEST to use a combination of both Primary and Secondary sources to obtain a complete story as possible.