What types of sources can you use for historical research?
There are three main types of sources you can use to research historical topics: primary, secondary, and tertiary sources.
What is a primary source?
A primary source is material that records a first-hand account of an event and are usually produced by people who witnessed or were involved with theevent. Primary sources can also include sources created at the time of an event but are not first-hand accounts, such as newspaper or magazine articles. Although theseare not first-hand accounts, they can provide insight into how historical events were discussed and understood at the time.They are original materials that have not been modified by interpretation and offer original thought or new information. Examples include memoirs, interviews, accounts that were written later (journal/diary entries), artwork, literature, objects, government documents, and many more.
What is a secondary source?
A secondary source is one that analyzes primary sources to interpret historical events or themes. Secondary sources can include books, articles, or documentary films. Published collections of primary sources sometimes include secondary source introductions that explain what the primary source is. It can describe physical features and discuss its significance in helping us understand an event or topic. These resources often present primary source information with the addition of hindsight or historical perspective. Common examples include criticisms, histories, and magazine, journal, or newspaper articles written after the fact.
What is a tertiary source?
Tertiary sources are sources that identify and locate primary and secondary sources; their chief purpose is to list, summarize or simply repackage ideas or other information and they do not add any additional interpretation or analysis. These can include bibliographies, indexes, abstracts, encyclopedias, and other reference resources. These types of sources may also provide information that informs us of the consensus on a topic,or it may summarize the various arguments happening around a topic. This definition also applies tomany museum, library, and other educational websites or popular sources.
It can be helpful to think about thesetypes of sources occurring in layers.
Layers of Historical Research Sources
Layer 1: Primary Sources Diaries, letter, art, government documents or other materials from the period you are studying.
Layer 2: Secondary Sources Books, journal articles, and essays that provide original research and analysis of primary sources.
Layer 3: Tertiary Sources Encyclopedias, Wikipedia, library or museum websites that collect and summarize multiple primary and secondary sources.
