The content of this guide was modeled after a guide originally created by Boatworth Memorial Library and has been adapted for the NWP Learning Commons in September 2020. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons 4.0 International License.
What is a primary source?
Primary sources are first-hand accounts of events and are considered to be authoritative. They represent original thinking, reports on discoveries or events, or they can share new information. Primary sources are usually created at the time of an event and offer insight into that event.
Examples of Primary Sources:
Original documents (diaries, speeches, letters, minutes, interviews, news articles or footage, autobiographies, official records, research conducted by authors,).
Creative works (poetry, drama, novels, music, art, films).
Relics or artifacts (jewelry, pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings, tools)
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What is a secondary source?
A secondary source is a source that analyzes and discusses a primary source or another event. These sources are not first-hand accounts, but they can include primary sources in their discussion. A research article or scholarly book (like a textbook) would be an example of a secondary source.