Primary Sources

Primary sources were created during an event or about an event by people who experienced it.

• Diaries, journals, or oral histories
• Letters
• Newspaper accounts
• Interviews
• Speeches
• Photographs
• Artwork, or political cartoons
• Pamphlets
• Songs

Secondary Sources

Secondary sources are books or articles written about a person or event, using primary sources. Textbooks and encyclopedias are examples of secondary sources. Use secondary sources to give you background information on your topic, but be sure to include as much primary source material as you can in your own research.