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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:
  • 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
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

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:
Picture
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 
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
(Source: http://www.princeton.edu/~refdesk/primary2.html on 8/23/11)

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More Primary Documents + Images

Picture

NYPL Digital Gallery

http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/index.cfm
View historical maps, vintage posters, rare prints, photographs and more
Picture
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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  • BPC Catalog
  • BPC Databases
  • BPC School
  • MyLibraryNYC
  • --------------------
  • 1. Birthday Book Club
  • 2. Citing Sources
  • 3. ESL and E-Books
  • 4. HW & Search Tools
  • 5. Information Skills ›
    • Dewey Decimal Call Numbers
  • 6. Library Events
  • 7. Library Songs
  • 8. Online Safety
  • 9. ***READING ROCKS!*** ›
    • A. Everyone Loves to Read!
    • B. Amazing Authors
    • C. Award Winners
    • D. Books to Read Next
    • E. Comics & Manga
    • D. Music
    • F. Magazines
    • G. Online Stories
    • H. Poetry
    • I. Book Trailers
  • 10. Research ›
    • Primary Sources
  • 11. Parents & Caregivers ›
    • A. Reading With Your Child
    • B. Parent Links
    • C. Birthday Book Club Info for Parents
    • D. How to Help Our Library
  • 12. Subjects ›
    • A. Art
    • B. Gym & Health
    • C. Math
    • E. Science >
      • Science Fair Research
      • Solar System
    • F. Humanities >
      • 3rd Grade China Resources
      • American Revolution
      • Explorers
      • Maps
    • G. Spanish
  • 13. Summer Reading
  • 14. Teacher Page ›
    • A. Teacher Tools
    • B. Library Calendar
    • C. Comics in the Classroom
  • 15. Tech
  • 16. Grants
  • 17. Kids Only!
  • 18. Rosetta Stone
  • Book Fair
  • ...........
  • Old Home