Types of Sources: What Are They?
Primary Source
As stated in the Library of Congress site, "Primary sources are the raw materials of history — original documents and objects which were created at the time under study."
For example: photographs of a protest march, a legal document such as The Constitution, the speech given by a famous person, a painting of a battle scene done by a witness, a letter from a king to another, an audio interview with a person who witnessed an important event, etc.
Secondary Source
Accounts or interpretations of events created by someone without firsthand experience, or analysis done after the fact, are "Secondary Sources."
For example: an analysis of why the French Revolution changed the social classes in Europe, a book in which the author explains what happened during the battle of Agincourt, an article with someone's opinion on the influence of the "I have a dream" speech by Martin Luther King, Jr, etc.
Recommended Databases
- History Reference Center (EBSCO) This link opens in a new window750+ history reference books, encyclopedias, and the full-text of 60 history magazines. This database contains 58,000 historical documents; 43,000 biographies, 12,000 photos and maps; and 87 hours film and video.
- U.S. History in Context (Gale) This link opens in a new window"Provides a complete overview of our nation’s past that covers the most-studied events, decades, conflicts, wars, political and cultural movements, and people. Comprehensive, contextual, media-rich information is provided on topics ranging from the arrival of Vikings in North America, to the stirrings of the revolution, through to the Civil Rights movement, 9/11, and the War on Terror."
- World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras (ABC-CLIO) This link opens in a new windowCovers every area of the world from the dawn of prehistory through the great ancient empires to the beginning of the Renaissance. Thousands of authoritative primary and secondary sources, in-depth explorations of key topics, and profiles of city-states, countries, and regions of the ancient and medieval world.
- World History: The Modern Era (ABC-CLIO) This link opens in a new windowComprehensive overview of the emergence of the modern world from 1500 to the present. Covers Europe since the Renaissance, and concurrent developments in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Islamic world.
eBooks
Video Sources
Click on the Movie Posters to Link to the Films
Websites: Digital Archives with Primary Sources
- British Archivesind records from The National Archives and over 2,500 archives across the UK
- British History OnlineBritish History Online is a digital library of key printed primary and secondary sources for the history of Britain and Ireland, with a primary focus on the period between 1300 and 1800.
- Internet Medieval SourcebookThe Internet History Sourcebooks Project is a collection of public domain and copy-permitted historical texts presented cleanly (without advertising or excessive layout) for educational use.
- Library of CongressThe Library of Congress is the largest library in the world, with millions of books, recordings, photographs, newspapers, maps and manuscripts in its collections. The Library is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office.