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History: Differences Between Primary and Secondary Sources

Primary sources were created during or by participants in the events being studied and provide a firsthand perspective. Secondary sources interpret and analyze historical events or phenomena and are at least one step removed from the event. Primary sources include diaries, government records, newspapers, and other documents created at the time of the event, while secondary sources are history books and articles that discuss events using primary sources as evidence. The key to determining if a source is primary is how soon after the event the information was recorded.

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87 views3 pages

History: Differences Between Primary and Secondary Sources

Primary sources were created during or by participants in the events being studied and provide a firsthand perspective. Secondary sources interpret and analyze historical events or phenomena and are at least one step removed from the event. Primary sources include diaries, government records, newspapers, and other documents created at the time of the event, while secondary sources are history books and articles that discuss events using primary sources as evidence. The key to determining if a source is primary is how soon after the event the information was recorded.

Uploaded by

Akshay Sarjan
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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History: Differences Between Primary and

Secondary Sources

Primary sources were either created during the time period being studied

or were created at a later date by a participant in the events being studied

(as in the case of memoirs).  They reflect the individual viewpoint of a

participant or observer.  Primary sources enable the researcher to get as

close as possible to what actually happened during an historical event or

time period

A secondary source is a work that interprets or analyzes an historical

event or phenomenon.  It is generally at least one step removed from the

event is often based on primary sources.  Examples include:  scholarly or

popular books and articles, reference books, and textbooks.


What is a Primary Source?

Primary sources are the historical documents used by historians as

evidence. Examples of primary sources include diaries, personal journals,

government records, court records, property records, newspaper articles,

military reports, military rosters, and many other things.

In contrast, a secondary source is the typical history book which may

discuss a person, event or other historical topic. A good secondary source

uses primary sources as evidence.

The key to determining whether an item may be considered to be a primary

source is to ask how soon after the event was the information recorded.

This can be a problem with an autobiography, memoir, reminiscence, etc. if

the author is working several years with only the memory of what

happened. Your history professor will disallow most or all of these as

primary sources.
Using Primary Sources on the Web This guide provides an overview of

what primary sources are with examples. Information about finding, using,

evaluating and citing them is also included. Site developed by the American

Library Association.  

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