Primary sources are documents or physical objects written or created at the time historical events occurred or well after the events in the form of memoirs or oral histories. The author or creator was present at the time of the event and offers a first-hand account. Primary sources may include:
Primary sources serve as raw material to interpret the past, and when used along with previous interpretations by historians, may provide resources necessary for historical research.
Browse History Librarian, Rachel Brekhus' History: Primary Resources Research Guide
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Secondary Sources analyze, interpret, or comment on primary resources. They may include books (handbooks, encyclopedias, biographies), articles, reviews, scientific studies, editorials, etc.
