Primary Source

From PhillipsWiki

What Is a Primary Source?

A primary source is a document that shows direct, immediate or firsthand knowledge of a subject or event. It is a document written at the time or on the scene where an event occurred. Following are some examples of primary sources:

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• Autobiographies: an account of a person’s life written by that person; these include memoirs, and reminiscences. Example: The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

• Diaries/Journals: a chronological record of a person’s observations and experiences. Examples: The Diary of Anne Frank, The Journal of Lewis and Clark

• Letters: communications in writing between two or more people. Example: Abraham Lincoln : speeches and writings.

• Speeches: a talk or public address on a topic or event by a person directly related to the event. Example: “Grant’s Inaugural Address”

• Travel Accounts: observations or reminiscences of journeys. Example: The Road to Oregon a Chronicle of the Great Emigrant Trail

• Messages/Papers: writings generated by a person while engaging in official duties. Example: The Messages and Papers of Jefferson Davis and the Confederacy

• Government Documents: official writings produced by the various branches of local, state, and federal government; also includes writings produced by foreign governments. These include treaties, laws, court documents, government reports, committee papers, Act of Congress, and papers of government officials. Examples: The Cold War : a history in documents and eyewitness accounts; “Brown vs. the Board of Education”, The Warren Commission Report on the Assassination of President Kennedy, the Congressional Record, the “Taft Hartley Act”

• Magazine/Newspaper Articles: articles written at the time an event happened; preferably by an eye- witness to the event. These could include interviews and reports from the field. Examples: Ernie Pyle’s news dispatches from the front in World War II, H. L. Mencken’s news reports on the Scopes Trial for the Baltimore Sun.

• Manuscripts: original handwritten documents. These could include any of the above listed categories.

• Photographs and other non-text materials: photos taken at the event happened as well as drawings or paintings created by artists. Example: The Bell Tower at Phillips below.
  

More samples for you via Manuscript Reading Room Online Collection at the Library of Congress
Harvard University Open Collection program on Immigration to the United States: 1789-1930

Primary Sources vs. Secondary Sources

Secondary sources are those writings without direct knowledge of a topic or event. These include biographies, monographs, and general periodical articles. Secondary sources are written by people who did not witness or experience an event but have a great deal of knowledge about the topic. Writers often use primary sources in their writing of secondary sources!

Where to look for Primary Sources

Once you are clear about the difference between a Primary Source and a Secondary Source, it is time to start searching!

NOBLE Catalog

Library Catalog - When using the catalog, begin by using a general keyword search. Put your search terms in quotes and include the phrase "primary source". For example:

"Abraham Lincoln" primary source

Another tip: If you find a source that looks good, be sure to examine its subject headings at the bottom of the record. These subject headings are more specific than keywords, and will often lead you to similar sources. Here is an example of a subject heading search:

United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives

Subscription Databases

Phillips Academy A to Z Databases - When you use A to Z databases, you will notice a column to the right with a purple letter P symbol. This means these databases contain primary sources.

To Learn More About Primary Sources

• Evaluating Primary Sources
  
• University of Washington Libraries
• U.C. Berkeley Library
• University of Illinois

 Remember, always ask Instructional Librarians for further help!

Last Rev. by Sharon on 5/7/08