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Primary sources are objects or documents created when an event was taking place or when a study was being performed. These sources present first-hand accounts of the given events.
Primary sources may include:
- The findings of a scientific study
- Legal documents
- Diaries
- Letters
- Speeches
- Video footage
- Photos
- Art
- Artifacts
- Newspapers
When searching for primary sources, try adding the following keywords to your search:
- Correspondence
- Interview
- Letter
- Speech
- Diary
- Archive
- Documentary
- Manuscript
- Catalog
- Statistics
- Study
Secondary Sources
Secondary sources are those that were created after an event took place and analyze, interpret, or comment on primary sources. These sources were not present at the time of an event, but will often reference sources that were.
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National History Day, an annual program for elementary and secondary students designed to "teach essential historical literacy that motivates students to secure the future of democracy," defines primary sources as follows:
What is a primary source? Primary sources are materials directly related to a topic by time or participation. These materials include letters, speeches, diaries, newspaper articles from the time, oral history interviews, documents, photographs, artifacts, or anything else that provides firsthand accounts about a person or event.
Some materials might be considered primary sources for one topic but not for another. For example, a newspaper article about D-Day (which was June 6, 1944) written in June 1944 was likely written by a participant or eyewitness and would be a primary source; an article about D-Day written in June 2001 probably was not written by an eyewitness or participant and would not be a primary source.
Similarly, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, delivered soon after the 1863 battle, is a primary source for the Civil War, but a speech given on the 100th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg in 1963 is not a primary source for the Civil War. If, however, the topic was how Americans commemorate the Civil War, then the 100th anniversary speech would be a primary source for that topic. If there's any doubt about whether a source should be listed as primary or secondary, you should explain in your annotated bibliography why you chose to categorize it as you did.
Students should consider the following locations when looking for primary source material:
- Public and College Libraries
- Local and State Historical Societies
- Museums
- State Archives
- Corporate Archives
- Town and County Historians
- Town Hall Records
- Town Planning Offices
- Schools
- Churches
- Community Groups, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Daughters of the American Revolution, Ethnic Organizations, etc.
- Community Residents
Here are some common questions about primary sources:
Are interviews with experts primary sources? No, an interview with an expert (a professor of Civil War history, for example) is not a primary source, UNLESS that expert actually lived through and has firsthand knowledge of the events being described.
If I find a quote from a historical figure in my textbook or another secondary source and I use the quote in my project, should I list it as a primary source? No, quotes from historical figures which are found in secondary sources are not considered primary sources. The author of the book has processed the quotation, selecting it from the original source. Without seeing the original source for yourself, you don't know if the quotation is taken out of context, what else was in the source, what the context was, etc.
It may not be necessary to include each of these types of sources in every paper you write, but your instructor may require you to include them. It is important to understand the characteristics of primary, secondary and tertiary sources–they each serve a different purpose throughout the research process, and can strengthen your assignment, too.
It can be difficult to figure out if a source is considered primary, secondary, or tertiary. We will explain the differences and provide examples of each in this tutorial. If you are still not sure if a source you would like to use is primary, secondary, or tertiary, ask a librarian or teacher.
What is a Primary Source?
Primary sources are first-hand, authoritative accounts of an event, topic, or historical time period. They are typically produced at the time of the event by a person who experienced it, but can also be made later on in the form of personal memoirs or oral histories.
Anything that contains original information on a topic is considered a primary source. Usually, primary sources are the object discussed in your paper. For instance, if you are writing an analysis on Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, the book would be a primary source. But, just because a source is old does not mean it is a primary source.
Some examples of original, first-hand, authoritative accounts include:
- Letters, diaries or journals (Personal thoughts)
- Original photographs
- First-hand newspaper reports
- Speeches, autobiographies
- Memoirs
- Creative works like plays, paintings and songs
- Research data and surveys
What is a Secondary Source?
Secondary sources interpret or critique primary sources. They often include an analysis of the event that was discussed or featured in the primary source. They are second-hand accounts that interpret or draw conclusions from one or more primary sources.
Some examples of works that interpret or critique primary sources include:
- Textbooks (May also be considered tertiary)
- Essays or reviews
- Articles that analyze or discuss ideas and events
- Criticisms or commentaries
What is a Tertiary Source?
Tertiary sources generally provide an overview or summary of a topic, and may contain both primary and secondary sources. The information is displayed as entirely factual, and does not include analysis or critique. Tertiary sources can also be collections of primary and secondary sources, such as databases, bibliographies and directories.
Some examples of sources that provide a summary or collection of a topic include:
- Textbooks (May also be considered secondary)
- Almanacs
- Bibliographies or abstracts
- Wikipedia articles
- Encyclopedias
Using Primary, secondary and Tertiary Sources in Research
Let’s say you are writing a research paper on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) of 1972, but you are unfamiliar with it. A good place to gather a general idea or understanding of the ERA would be a tertiary source, such as Wikipedia or the Encyclopedia Britannica. There, you can read a summary of events on its history, key people involved, and legislation.
To find more in-depth analysis on the Equal Rights Amendment, you consult a secondary source: the nonfiction book Why We Lost the ERA by Jane Mansbridge and a newspaper article from the 1970’s that discuss and review the legislation. These provide a more focused analysis of the Equal Rights Amendment that you can include as sources in your paper (make sure you cite them!). A primary source that could bolster your research would be a government document detailing the ERA legislation that initially passed in Congress, giving a first-hand account of the legislation that went through the House and Senate in 1972.