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What is a Primary Source?
A primary source is a document or
physical object which was written
or created during the time under
study. These sources were present
during an experience or time
period and offer an inside view of
a particular event. Some types of
primary sources include:
ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS (excerpts
or translations acceptable): Diaries,
speeches, manuscripts, letters,
interviews, news film footage,
autobiographies, official records
CREATIVE WORKS: Poetry, drama,
novels, music, art
RELICS OR ARTIFACTS: Pottery,
furniture, clothing, buildings
Examples of primary sources
include:
Diary of Anne Frank - Experiences
of a Jewish family during WWII
The Constitution of Canada -
Canadian History
A journal article reporting NEW
research or findings
Weavings and pottery - Native
American history
Plato's Republic - Women in
Ancient Greece
What is a secondary source?
A secondary source interprets and
analyzes primary sources. These
sources are one or more steps
removed from the event.
Secondary sources may have
pictures, quotes or graphics of
primary sources in them. Some
types of seconday sources include:
PUBLICATIONS: Textbooks,
magazine articles, histories,
criticisms, commentaries,
encyclopedias
Examples of secondary sources
include:
A journal/magazine article which
interprets or reviews previous
findings
A history textbook
A book about the effects of WWI
Search by keyword for Primary
Sources in the Main Catalog
You can search the Main Catalog to
find direct references to primary
source material. Perform a
keyword search for your topic and
add one of the words below:
(these are several examples of
words that would identify a source
as primary)
charters
correspondence
diaries
early works
interviews
manuscripts
oratory
pamphlets
personal narratives
sources
speeches
letters
documents
