What is a primary/secondary source?
Answer
Primary sources provide first hand accounts of a topic by people who have a direct connection to the subject.
Examples of Primary Sources
- diaries
- photographs of an event
- interviews
- letters/correspondence
- original art
- reports of original scientific findings by the person who conducted the research
- state constitutions
Secondary sources are an analysis or interpretation of a primary source. They cite, comment on, or build on primary sources.
Examples of Secondary Sources
- biographies not written by the subject
- books about a historical subject, like the Civil War
- literary analysis articles
- magazines and newspaper articles
Tertiary sources are collections of primary or secondary sources, like an index or bibliography.
The exact label that applies to a source may depend on the academic discipline or subject matter. For example, a biology textbook would be a secondary source in a paper about biology. But in a paper about the history of textbooks and science education it could be used a primary source to show how textbooks have changed over time. A biography of Thomas Jefferson would be a secondary source when writing about Jefferson's life. But in a paper about how historians have interpreted his life it might be a primary source. If you are unsure, it is always best to ask your instructor or a librarian for assistance.