NHD Primary versus Secondary Sources

NHDPrimary versus Secondary Sources What is the difference between primary and secondary sources?

Sources You must use at least 10 sources for this project. At least five of these sources must be primarysources. So what is the difference between primary and secondary sources? Let’s find out.

Secondary Source – A source created using primary and secondary sources. It is not time specific.

Primary Source – A source created by an eyewitness or participant of the historical event. It is time specific; think 1st hand account.

Here is a list of different types of sources. Categorize each source as Primary or as Secondary by making a list for each type. Remember that each source may or may not appear in both categories Biography Newspaper article Photograph Speech Film / Video Personal Letter Diary/ Journal Painting Autobiography Magazine article Audio File Web Site

Biographies are always secondary sources

Autobiographies are always primary sources Wow, she was a lot different then. Imagine how you will change in the next few years.

Newspaper articles can be primary or secondary depending on the date.

Photograph can be primary or secondary depending on when it was taken

Speeches are primary sources http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/day-of-infamy/images/infamy-radio-address.wav

Films / Videos are primary sources http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VqQAf74fsE

Personal Letters are primary sources

Diaries/ Journals are primary sources.

Paintings can be primary or secondary, but are usually primary.

Magazine articles can be primary or secondary depending on when they were written.

Audio Files are primary sources http://www.fu-berlin.de/en/sites/kennedy/dokumente/rede_audio/index.html

Web Sites are almost always secondary sources. Remember search engines like Google are not sources. The results they give will lead you to sources.

Historians do not use tertiary sources like encyclopedia or web sites like Wikipedia.

NHD Primary versus Secondary Sources