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Primary sources are original materials created during the time period you are studying or writing about. They show first-hand experiences or give a direct view of an event.

Examples of Primary Sources:

• Diaries: Like Anne Frank’s diary
• Videos: Example: Footage of President Kennedy’s assassination
• Official Documents: Like the Declaration of Independence
• Newspaper Articles: Written at the time of the event
• Government Records: Laws, hearings, or secret data
• Photographs and Posters
• Speeches and Interviews

These sources help you understand history from the people who lived it!

[Image of the Declaration of Independence]

(Image from: www.archives.gov)

Secondary Sources

These explain, interpret, or analyze primary sources.

Examples:

• Articles in scholarly journals (JSTOR)
• Biographies (American National Biography database)
• Critiques of books, poems, or plays (Literature Resource Center)
• Political analysis of elections or politician

Tertiary Sources

These summarize or give an overview of a topic. They combine information from primary and secondary sources.

Examples:

• Textbooks
• Encyclopedias (Britannica Academic Edition)
• Wikipedia

For more information on this topic, see our libguide on Primary and Secondary Resources.