Primary Sources
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:
The Library of Congress provides ways to use primary resources for students:
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/
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Primary Sources can be found here:
- ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS: Diaries, speeches, manuscripts, letters, interviews, news film footage, autobiographies, official records
- CREATIVE WORKS: Poetry, drama, novels, music, art, photographs
- RELICS OR ARTIFACTS: Pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings
- 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
The Library of Congress provides ways to use primary resources for students:
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/
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Primary Sources can be found here:
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1. American Memory
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/index.html Written and spoken words, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience 2. NYPL Archival Collection http://www.nypl.org/find-archival-materials A wide variety of primary source material, not only paper documents – such as correspondence, manuscripts, and diaries – but also photographs, sound recordings, films, videotapes, artifacts, and electronic records 3. NYPL Digital Collection http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/index.cfm Illuminated manuscripts, historical maps, vintage posters, rare prints 4. The National Archives - American History http://www.archives.gov/ 5. Smithsonian Institute http://www.sil.si.edu/SILPublications/Online-Exhibitions/ Access primary sources and other resources on a wide variety of topics, including military and political history 6. Brooklyn Collection http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/brooklyncollection/ 7. Life Photo Archive http://images.google.com/hosted/life 8. Civil Rights Digital Library http://crdl.usg.edu/ 9. Eyewitness to History http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/ 10. Ready 'Net Go http://www.tulane.edu/~lmiller/ArchivesResources.html 11. Eduplace: United States History and World History http://www.eduplace.com/ss/hmss/primary.html Portal to finding more primary resources 12 . Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov/index.html Legislative information, historical exhibits, primary source materials, resources for educators, research tools, and more |
Secondary Sources
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 secondary sources include:
- PUBLICATIONS: Textbooks, magazine articles, histories, criticisms, commentaries, encyclopedias
- A journal/magazine article which interprets or reviews previous findings
- A history textbook
- A book about the effects of WWI
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More Primary Documents + Images
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NYPL Digital Gallery
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/index.cfm
View historical maps, vintage posters, rare prints, photographs and more |
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National Archives
http://docsteach.org/ Find written documents, images, maps, charts, graphs, audio and video that spans the course of American history. |
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