United States History (2024-25): Primary Sources

Primary materials need to be carefully read and interpreted. Some questions to ask include:

1. Who created the source and for what original purpose?
2. Did the creator have firsthand knowledge?
3. What biases or hidden agendas did the creator have? Is the document meant to persuade or inform?
4. Was the source originally meant to be private or public?
5. When was the source created? Soon after the event, years later?

For more explanation on how to use and interpret primary sources see: Primary Source Analysis Tool & Guide

Primary Sources are original documents or accounts created at the time of an historical event or era. Memoirs, oral histories, and interviews are considered primary sources when they record direct eyewitness accounts to an event or era.

Types of primary sources include:

• Letters & Diaries
• Speeches
• Interviews & Memoirs
• Literary works
• Buildings & Artifacts
• Government Documents
• Advertisements
• Newspaper articles
• Political Cartoons
• Maps & Images
• Sound Recordings
• Works of Art
• Research Data
• Movies & Video

Primary sources serve as the raw material to interpret the past. They provide the resources necessary for original historical research, that is, research and analysis in your own words (hence their requirement in history projects!). 

Secondary sources comment upon, explain, or interpret primary sources. They are previous interpretations by historians used to support your argument. 

Together, primary and secondary sources make up the key element of quality historical research.

Not sure what you're looking at? Feel free to ask for help!

Source: ALA's Reference and User Service Association