What are Primary Sources?
Primary sources are originally created documents that provide an eyewitness account of a specific event or cultural phenomenon. Primary sources offer an immediate, first-hand experience of what happened in history and can bring the past to life. Primary sources may include diaries, letters, interviews, photographs, artworks, film, video, newspaper articles, pamphlets, radio and television broadcasts, speeches, manuscripts and published books or magazines.
In scholarly research, primary sources can provide a direct link to the past and allow readers to form their own interpretations and understanding of historical events. Presents historical evidence that forms the basis of other interpretations or conclusions, provides context for future studies and examination of facts, offers a first-hand glimpse into the past and in many ways, explains the motivations and perspectives of people who lived long ago.
Types of Primary Sources
Primary sources are objects or documents created during the time period being studied, or created at a later date by a participant of the events being studied. For example, if you were studying the American Revolution, a letter written by George Washington would be a primary source.
There are many types of primary sources including letters and diaries, photographs and drawings, memoirs and autobiographies, interviews, newspaper and magazine articles, audio recordings, video recordings, manuscripts, census records and legal documents.
Using Primary Sources
When using primary sources, it’s important to remember that they reflect the values and experiences of particular people at a particular point in time. Primary sources should be used in conjunction with other evidence and sources to gain a better understanding of a particular topic. It is also important to consider the time and place of a source; for example, the ideas and events reported in a newspaper in the 15th century may not accurately reflect nationwide beliefs of the time.
When reading a primary source, it is important to remember that authors of primary sources are focused more on establishing a narrative than on presenting objective facts. Therefore, it is important to consider the source’s biases and frames of reference as well as any potential inaccuracies.
Primary sources can provide a deeper understanding of history and the way people lived in the past. They can offer insights into the way society functioned, significant historical events and trends in thought or politics. Furthermore, they offer the opportunity to see history through the eyes of the people who experienced or played a role in its events.