Types of Sources and Where to Find Them: Part I: Primary Sources

Summary

This tutorial explains the distinction between primary and secondary sources for historians and scholars. Primary sources, such as diaries and legal testimonies, offer raw materials for research, while secondary sources interpret the past based on these primary materials. The script discusses the importance of understanding the context of creation, the creator's intentions, and the audience for these sources. It also provides guidance on locating primary sources, including unpublished documents in archives and published materials available online, emphasizing the need for critical evaluation of their reliability and relevance.

Takeaways

• 📚 Primary and secondary sources are classified based on their production time relative to the events being studied and their role in research.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Primary sources are raw materials created around the time of the events and are key evidence in historical research.
• 📰 Secondary sources offer interpretations of the past based on primary sources, such as the example of a newspaper article from 1959.
• 🔍 The categorization of a source as primary or secondary depends on the research question and how the source is treated in the context of that question.
• 📖 A single work, like 'Black Reconstruction in America,' can serve as both a primary and secondary source depending on the focus of the research.
• 🏛️ Many primary sources are unpublished and located in archives, requiring physical access for study.
• 📝 Examples of primary sources include diaries, letters, and legal documents, which provide firsthand accounts of events.
• 🌐 Some primary sources, though not published at the time of creation, have been later published or digitized for online access.
• 🔎 Finding primary sources can be challenging due to language barriers, loss of documents, or their non-existence.
• 🗺️ Primary sources like maps, photographs, and visual materials offer insights into the time period and perspectives of the people.
• 📚 Published primary sources can be located through online catalogs and digital collections of historical documents.
• 📝 Consulting bibliographies and secondary literature can help identify primary sources used by other scholars in related research.

Q & A

What is the main difference between primary and secondary sources?

Primary sources are original materials created around the time of the events being studied, reflecting the creator's observations or beliefs. Secondary sources, in contrast, provide interpretations of the past based on primary sources.

Why is it important to understand the distinction between primary and secondary sources?

The distinction is important because it affects how you understand and use these sources in your research. Primary sources serve as raw material for analysis, while secondary sources offer interpretations that can be used to support or challenge your arguments.

Can a single source be considered both a primary and a secondary source?

Yes, a source can be used as both a primary and secondary source depending on the research question. Its classification depends on how it is treated in the context of the research.

What is an example of a primary source mentioned in the script?

An example of a primary source is a newspaper article describing Nixon's visit to the Soviet Union in 1959, written by a journalist who witnessed the event.

What is the significance of considering the context when evaluating a primary source?

Considering the context helps determine the reliability of the source, the motivations behind its creation, and its intended audience, which are crucial for understanding its value in research.

Why might historical documents be difficult to locate?

Historical documents may be difficult to locate because they may never have been published, are only available in archives, have been lost, were never created, or exist in languages other than English.

What are some examples of primary sources for researching the issue of birth control in 20th century America?

Examples include court cases, legislative documents, newspaper articles, and letters, which can provide a variety of perspectives on the issue.

How can one determine if a source is a reliable account or created with a particular bias?

One must consider the source's creation time, its creator's intentions, and whether it was created to persuade or inform. This helps in assessing the reliability and potential bias of the account.

What types of organizations might create records related to a research topic?

Organizations that might create relevant records include governments, associations, non-governmental organizations, and businesses, which can produce statistics, reports, legislative documents, and financial records.

How can visual material provide insight into a historical period?

Visual material such as maps, photographs, posters, and advertisements can reveal contemporary perspectives, political boundaries, social concerns, and cultural attitudes of the time.

How can one find published primary sources for research?

Published primary sources can be found using online catalogs, digital collections of historical documents, and by consulting bibliographies and secondary literature on the topic.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding Primary and Secondary Sources

This paragraph introduces the fundamental concepts of primary and secondary sources in historical research. Primary sources are original materials created around the time of the events being studied, offering firsthand observations or beliefs of the creator. They are crucial for forming evidence in research papers. Secondary sources interpret the past based on primary sources. Examples given include a newspaper article from 1959 about Nixon's visit to the Soviet Union and a 1646 pamphlet of legal testimony from a witch trial. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of considering the context of creation, the creator's intent, and the audience when evaluating sources. It also discusses the challenge of locating primary sources, which may be unpublished and available only in archives, or published and accessible in libraries or online.

05:00

🔍 Locating and Evaluating Primary Sources

The second paragraph delves into the process of finding and assessing primary sources. It suggests considering when and where a source was created, who created it, and the purpose or audience it was intended for. The paragraph provides examples of different types of primary sources such as letters, diaries, autobiographies, oral histories, and government documents. It also touches on the importance of determining the reliability of a source and whether it was created at the time of the events or later. The paragraph further discusses the value of visual materials like maps, photographs, and advertisements as primary sources, and how they can offer insights into contemporary perspectives. It advises using online catalogs and digital collections to find published primary sources and consulting bibliographies and secondary literature for leads on potential sources.

10:29

🎶 Conclusion and Acknowledgment

The final paragraph, marked by the presence of music, serves as a conclusion to the video script. It acknowledges the contribution of the History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library at the University of Illinois in bringing the video to the viewer. This paragraph does not contain substantial content related to the main themes discussed in the previous paragraphs but signifies the end of the tutorial and provides a note of thanks to the supporting institution.

Keywords

💡Primary Sources

Primary sources are original materials or evidence from the time period involved in the research. They are created by a witness or participant and can include a variety of materials such as letters, diaries, photographs, and newspaper articles. In the video, primary sources are defined as the raw material that researchers analyze to answer their research questions, serving as key evidence in forming arguments. An example given in the script is a newspaper article describing Nixon's visit to the Soviet Union in 1959, which was written by a journalist who witnessed the event.

💡Secondary Sources

Secondary sources are works that are based on primary sources but provide an interpretation of the past. They are often scholarly articles, books, or documentaries that synthesize and analyze primary sources to construct a narrative or argument. The script contrasts secondary sources with primary sources, noting that while primary sources are the raw data, secondary sources interpret these data. An example used in the video is 'Black Reconstruction in America' by WEB Du Bois, which can be a secondary source for research on 19th-century America but a primary source for research on Du Bois's life or black intellectual culture during the 1930s.

💡Historians

Historians are scholars who study and interpret past events and eras. They use a variety of sources, both primary and secondary, to construct narratives about the past. In the context of the video, historians classify sources as primary or secondary, which is crucial for understanding how to use these sources in historical research. The script emphasizes the importance of this distinction for how historians approach and interpret historical events.

💡Research Question

A research question is a query that a researcher seeks to answer through their study. It guides the collection and analysis of data and helps to determine the relevance of sources. The script mentions that primary sources serve as raw material for analysis and synthesis to answer a research question and form key pieces of evidence in a paper's argument.

💡Archives

Archives are repositories that collect, preserve, and make available historical records and documents. They are often where researchers find unpublished primary sources. The script discusses the challenge of locating primary sources, noting that many historical documents are only available in archives and may require in-person access.

💡Diaries

Diaries are personal records of daily experiences, thoughts, and observations. They are considered primary sources when they are created around the time of the events being studied. In the script, a diary written in 1912 and published several decades later is mentioned as an example of a primary source that can provide a first-person account of a historical period.

💡Legal Testimony

Legal testimony refers to evidence given by a witness under oath during a legal proceeding. The script mentions a pamphlet compiling legal testimony from a witch trial published in 1646 as an example of a primary source that documents the event and reflects the beliefs and attitudes of the time.

💡Reliability

Reliability in the context of historical research refers to the trustworthiness of a source. It is important to assess whether a source accurately represents the event or is influenced by the creator's biases. The script advises researchers to consider the reliability of a source, such as the pamphlet's author's motivations, when using primary sources.

💡Published Primary Sources

Published primary sources are original materials that were created at the time of the events they describe and have been subsequently published in some form. The script distinguishes between unpublished documents found in archives and published primary sources like diaries or letters that have been made available to a wider audience through books or digital platforms.

💡Visual Material

Visual material refers to any form of visual evidence such as photographs, maps, posters, and cartoons that can provide insights into a historical period. The script highlights the importance of visual material as a powerful source of information, giving the example of a map from 1854 that reflects contemporary understanding of disease spread and social concerns about illness.

💡Bibliographies

Bibliographies are lists of works cited or recommended for further reading on a particular subject. They can be a valuable resource for locating primary sources. The script suggests consulting bibliographies and secondary literature to discover what sources other scholars have used in their research, which can guide a researcher in finding relevant primary sources.

Highlights

Primary and secondary sources are differentiated based on their production time and their role in reflecting events or providing interpretations.

Primary sources are raw materials for analysis and form key evidence in research arguments.

Secondary sources interpret the past based on primary sources, like the example of a newspaper article from Nixon's visit to the Soviet Union in 1959.

The categorization of a source as primary or secondary depends on the research question and how the source is treated.

W. E. B. Du Bois' 'Black Reconstruction in America' can serve as both a secondary source for 19th-century research and a primary source for studies on Du Bois' life or black intellectual culture.

Locating primary sources can be challenging as many are unpublished and available only in archives.

Some primary sources like diaries and expense books are unique documents accessible only in person at specific archives.

Published primary sources can be found in libraries or online, but their discovery may require additional research.

The availability of historical documents can be limited by language barriers or the fact that they were never created.

When formulating a research topic, consider the types of evidence that will be accessible.

Three key questions to ask when evaluating primary sources: creation time, creator, and intended audience or purpose.

Different historical periods require searching for different kinds of primary sources, such as court cases, legislative documents, or personal letters.

First-person accounts can be found in diaries, autobiographies, oral histories, and literary works, which provide personal perspectives on events.

Assess the reliability of a source and determine if it was created at the time of the events or written later with a potential bias.

Organizations may create records related to a topic, such as government reports or non-governmental organization reports, which can serve as primary sources.

Visual materials like maps, photographs, and posters provide insights into the time period and can reflect contemporary perspectives.

Primary sources can have multiple meanings and should be analyzed for various interpretations, such as a map reflecting understanding of disease spread.

Published primary sources can be located using online catalogs or digital collections of historical documents.

Bibliographies and secondary literature can guide the discovery of primary sources used by other scholars.

The video is produced by the History, Philosophy, and Newspaper Library at the University of Illinois, providing educational content on source evaluation.

Transcripts

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types of sources and where to find them

part one primary

sources historians and other Scholars

classify sources as primary or

secondary this distinction is important

because it will affect how you

understand these

sources in this first video of a

two-part tutorial we will discuss

primary

sources primary sources are most often

produced around the time of the events

you are studying they reflect what their

creator observed or believed about the

event these sources serve as the raw

material that you'll analyze and

synthesize in order to answer your

research question and they will form key

pieces of evidence in your paper's

argument secondary sources in contrast

provide an interpretation of the past

based on primary

sources this newspaper article is an

example of a primary source it describes

a visit Nixon made to the Soviet Union

in

1959 It Was Written the day after by a

journalist who witnessed the event and

it reflects what the journalist and his

editors thought the readers would care

about at at the time another example of

a primary source is this pamphlet which

compiles legal testimony from a witch

trial it was published in

1646 the same year as the trial it

documents but given the nature of the

topic you would probably want to

research the pamphlets author John

Davenport to determine the reliability

of the transcription or what might have

motivated him to publish it you should

be aware that there's no nothing

inherent in a source that makes it

primary or secondary instead its

category depends on how you treat it

which in turn depends on your research

question for example black

reconstruction in America written in

1935 by web Deo could be used as a

secondary source for research about 19th

century America since dece draws on a

range of government reports biographies

and existing historical narratives in

order to make a claim about the past

however it could also be used as a

primary source for research about deo's

life or black intellectual culture

during the

1930s one of the main challenges of

dealing with primary sources is locating

them many historical documents have

never been published and they may only

be available in archives for example

here is a page from the expense book of

a student enrolled in the University of

Illinois

in

1930 it is a unique document located in

the student life and culture archive

here on campus and it is only accessible

to those who can come to the archive in

person this on the other hand is a

published primary source a diary written

in 1912 and first published several

decades later our copy is in the main

Stacks some of these materials like

letters were not published at the time

of creation but have been subsequently

published in a book or digitized and

made available

online for some topics historical

documents might be difficult to find

because they have been lost or were

never created in the first place in

other cases the primary sources might

exist but not in English therefore when

you begin to formulate a topic you'll

want to think about what kinds of

evidence will be available to you

when thinking about how to find or make

sense of primary sources you should ask

yourself three

questions when and where was it created

who created it for what purpose or what

audience was it

produced depending on the topic and the

time period that you are studying you'll

have to look for different kinds of

primary sources for example if you're

interested in the issue of birth control

in 20th century America you can expect

to find many primary sources including

court cases legislative documents

newspaper articles and

letters if you are interested in a topic

from a more distant historical time

period such as the status of Jews during

the Renaissance you may have to look

harder but you can still find documents

such as histories

laws novels and pamphlets

if you're interested in firstperson

accounts you want to take a look at

sources like

letters

Diaries

autobiographies oral

histories literary

works or pical writings you'll have to

determine if the source is a reliable

account or created with the intention of

imposing a particular understanding of

an event or situation were they created

at the time of events they account or

were they written many years later some

sources might make this point of view

obvious whereas others might pretend to

be authoritative in other cases you want

to think about what kinds of

organizations might have created records

related to your topic you might be able

to find

statistics government

reports legislative

documents court

records transactions of an association

annual reports and financial records or

reports of non-governmental

organizations you want to determine the

circumstances of the document's creation

was it an internal document created to

gather information or was it intended to

persuade others inside or outside the

group to take a certain course of action

visual material can also provide a

powerful window onto the time period you

are studying for instance apps not only

reveal contemporary political boundaries

but also how people thought of them

other visual sources include

photographs

posters

advertisements

cartoons travel

narratives and Motion

Pictures keep in mind that primary

sources can have multiple meanings for

example this 185 4 map provides evidence

about the 1854 London CA outbreak but it

also reflects a new understanding of how

disease spreads and a concern with

illness as a social

problem you can find published primary

sources by using the online catalog or

by searching in a digital collection of

historical documents such as the

garrettson collection of women's history

chronicling America

and Empire

online the history Library maintains a

list of these collections on its

website remember though that these

databases will not explicitly categorize

the items they list as primary and

secondary and may even contain documents

that you might want to use as a

secondary source so you'll have to use

your own

judgment for example you might be

interested in this dictionary of women's

employ employment for the information it

contains about wages or for the

attitudes that it conveys about what

kinds of jobs are appropriate for women

you can also find primary sources by

Consulting published

bibliographies and by looking at the

secondary literature on your topic to

see what sources other Scholars have

used in their

research this video has been brought to

you by the history philosophy and

newspaper library at the University of

Illinois

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for

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