1. An Introduction to Primary and Secondary Sources

2. Primary Sources

3. What are primary sources?
A primary source is a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. These sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event.

4. Examples:
Original Documents (excerpts or translations acceptable): diaries, speeches, manuscripts, letters, interviews, news film footage, autobiographies, official records
Creative Works: poetry, drama, novels, music, art
Relics or Artifacts: pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings

5. What are primary sources?
Keep in mind that a primary source reflects only one point of view and may contain a person’s bias (prejudice) toward an event.

6. Examples of primary sources include:
Books, magazines, newspapers
From the time period/event being studied

7. Examples of primary sources:
Personal Records
Diaries, journals, records

8. Examples of primary sources:
Visual Materials
Paintings, drawings, sculpture

9. Examples of primary sources:
Visual Materials
photographs, film, maps

10. Examples of primary sources:
Oral Histories
Chronicles and memoirs

11. Examples of primary sources:
Written words from Songs and Poems

12. Examples of primary sources:
Artifacts
Tools, ornaments, objects

13. Secondary Sources

14. What are secondary sources?
A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources. These sources are one or more steps removed from the event. Secondary sources may have pictures, quotes or graphics of primary sources in them.

15. Examples: Publications such as: Textbooks Magazine articles Histories
Criticisms
Commentaries
Encyclopedias

16. Examples of secondary sources:
Textbooks, biographies, histories, newspaper report by someone who was not present

17. Examples of secondary sources:
Charts, graphs, or images created AFTER the time period.

18. PAST
P = Purpose: What was the object used for? What does the text say? What does the picture show?
A=Author: Who created this?
S=Slant: Is there bias? What is the point of view or frame of reference of the source.
T= Time Period: When was it created? What is the historical context or what was happening at the time it was created?

19. Name that Source!
Using the Primary and Secondary Sources worksheet, visit the examples set up on the tables. Determine which items are classified as a primary or secondary sources. Please write down the item number and name in the area provided on your worksheet.

20. Primary

21. Secondary

22. Places to find primary AND secondary sources:
Library of Congress
Montana Memory
Project
Local Museums
Gale databases (school
resources)
School or public library
card catalog
Google
YOUR LIBRARIANS

23. Internet resources for primary sources:
Library of Congress: The research library that serves the United States Congress, but which is the de facto national library of the United States. It is found at .
Montana Memory Project: The Montana Memory Project provides access to digital collections from numerous Montana libraries and historical repositories relating to Montana’s cultural heritage and government. It is found at .

24. Gale Databases 2 ways to find ‘Gale databases’:
On school computers, look in the ‘high school favorites’ folder…click on Gale History in Context
When logged into the school website, click on the high school tab; click on FOR STUDENTS; click on library; click on U.S. History in Context

25. Using GOOGLE for primary sources
To find primary documents on the web, try the following internet search
topic + “primary source”

26. Summary
It is important to determine the type of information you are looking at.
Primary sources are original sources of information
Secondary sources summarize, analyze, or critique primary sources
Both primary and secondary sources can be good sources of information, but you need to critically evaluate them.

27. When all else fails….. Ask one of our librarians for help!!!!
We are “super sleuths” with a heart !

28. The End