History and Primary Sources

Primary Sources

Definition: Raw data; original sources of information before it has been analyzed.
Characteristics: First-hand observations, contemporary accounts of events, viewpoints at the time.
Examples: Interviews, speeches, diaries, letters, photos, birth certificates, journal articles (science), magazine/newspaper articles written at the time.

Secondary Sources

Definition: Sources that analyze or interpret primary data. They do not offer new evidence.
Characteristics: Interpretations of information, written after the event, offer review or critique.
Examples: Biographies, journal articles, textbooks, commentaries, editorials, literary criticisms.

Tertiary Sources

Definition: Sources that compile data on a particular topic.
Characteristics: Collections or lists of primary and secondary sources, reference works, finding tools for sources.
Examples: Encyclopedias, bibliographies, abstracts, indexes, literature reviews, library catalogs, databases.

Adapted from https://guides.library.stonybrook.edu/c.php?g=546629&p=3868835

Note

Distinguishing between the three types of sources will vary according to context and situation. For example, if you’re analyzing how Canadian history was depicted in middle school textbooks in the 1980s, then the textbooks would be considered a primary source rather than a tertiary one. Also, different disciplines define primary sources differently.

It is important to examine primary sources with a critical eye. Below are some questions to consider once you've found a primary source(s):

RUSA's Guide to Evaluating Primary Sources: 

• Who is the author or creator?
• ​What biases or assumptions may have influenced the author or creator?
• Who was the intended audience?
• What is the origin of the primary source?
• What was the significance of the source at the time it was created?
• Has the source been edited or translated, or altered in some way from the original?
• What questions could be answered about the time period by using this source?
• What, if any, are the limitations of the source?
• Does your understanding of the source fit with other scholars’ interpretations, or does it challenge their argument?

The 6 C's of Primary Source Analysis:

1. Content - What is the main idea? Describe in detail what you see.
2. Citation - When was this created?
3. Context - What is going on in the world, the country, the region, or the locality when this was created?
4. Connections - Link the primary source to other things that you already know or have learned about.
5. Communication - Is this source reliable?
6. Conclusions - Ask yourself: How does the primary source contribute to our understanding of history?

Adapted from https://libguides.usc.edu/primarysources/evaluate