1. Adapted from a work created by Amber Carter
Sources of History
The tools of the historians trade
Michael Quiñones, NBCT
Adapted from a work created by Amber Carter

2. You will learn the following:
How history is created.
What a primary source is.
What a secondary source is.

3. Is history designed or does it occur?
Books about historical events and people do not fall out of the sky.
To find out about what occurred in the past people must examine sources.
Sources are pieces of evidence that reveal the past.
Source:

4. Some newspaper articles*
Primary Source
A record of an event as it originally occurred.
Free from a third party’s interpretation (what someone else thinks it is or means) Free from anyone else’s analysis (taking it apart to find out what it means)
Some examples include the following:
Artifacts
Photos
Some newspaper articles*
Letters, diaries
Also: oral histories

5. Secondary Source Books and articles
Offers an analysis (someone’s point of view) or explanation of primary sources
Historians often use primary sources to support their opinions/ideas
Examples:
Books and articles

6. Some examples of the primary sources Primary Source examples
Secondary Source examples
Original Artwork
Magazine article describing piece of art
Original letter
Biography about a person’s life
Videotape of theatre performance
Critic’s review of a performance