Primary sources are works created at the time of an event, or by a person who directly experienced an event. For example:
- Interviews, diaries, letters, journals, speeches, autobiographies, and witness statements
- Original hand-written manuscripts
- Government documents and public records
- Art, photographs, films, maps, fiction, and music
- Newspaper and magazine clippings
- Artifacts, buildings, furniture, and clothing
Secondary sources are works that are written after the original event or experience; they provide criticism or interpretation of the event or experience. For example:
- Textbooks
- Biographies
- Historical films, music, and art
- Articles about people and events from the past
For more information about primary sources and how to find them click here.
