What's the difference between a primary source and a secondary source? Where can I find primary sources for my research?
Answer
A primary source is a reliable first-hand account of a topic or event usually created at or near the time the event occurred or when the topic was relevant. A secondary source is an account created later by someone who did not personally experience the topic or event being discussed.
For historical research, primary sources are pieces of information that are contemporary to the time of the historical event you are researching. Primary sources can include:
- letters
- newspaper articles
- news footage
- digital recordings of events as they happened
- photographs
- interviews
- memoirs or autobiographies
- physical objects
- original experiments and research data
Secondary sources are generally examinations and analyses of primary sources. Secondary sources can include:
- books about a subject (example: a book about the history of television)
- journal articles
- documentaries
- reviews
- commentaries
- encyclopedia entries
How can you find primary sources? Well, it depends on your research topic. As a starting point, take a look at this research guide on Primary Sources; it has recommendations for finding primary sources online as well as in the greater Boston area.
Need help finding primary sources? Ask a Librarian! [link]