What Are Primary Sources?
Primary Sources are first-hand accounts such as diaries, maps, journals, letters, treaties, photographs, speeches, memoirs, autobiography, original artwork (or photographic representation of art work)—anything that is considered a direct source. That is, the creator is actually a direct participant in or an observer of an event. There are many other examples of primary sources that we will not include here. Sometimes, a source that might be considered a primary source in one discipline may not be the case for another discipline. Whether a soure is primary will sometimes depend on the context and your use of the specific source. The distinction between primary and secondary can be a very gray area.
Remember! Although many sources can be considered primary, it is important that you consult with your instructor and/or a librarian to confirm that something is, indeed, a primary source that is acceptable for your assignment. While some instructors may accept a wider variety of items, others might only allow for very specific types of sources to be used.
Examples of Primary Sources Based on Discipline
| Discipline | Primary Sources | Secondary Sources |
|---|---|---|
|
Art |
Sculpture, painting, mixed media, drawings, sketches, photographs, architecture, jewelry, other forms of art not included here such as musical composition | Reviews or criticism about the specific artwork |
|
Literature
|
Novels, poetry, personal essays, letters, diaries, journals, personal papers/correspondence, lyrics, autobiography, memoirs | Criticism and interpretations of written works |
|
History
|
Speeches, debates, newspaper articles written at the time of event documenting the event, maps |
Sources about an event written after the fact |
|
Social Sciences/Sciences
|
Original research such as surveys, collected data, observation, longitudinal studies documented in scholarly and peer-reviewed journal articles | Literature reviews, newspaper or magazine articles about original scholarly research |
Performing Arts |
Actual performance, film, movie, streaming media | Source that critiques or reviews the performance |
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