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.
Gale Primary Sources: Political Extremism and Radicalism
- Gale Primary Sources: Political Extremism and Radicalism: Far-Right and Left Political Groups in the U.S., Europe, and Australia in the Twentieth Century
Archive that provides insight on fringe groups from both the right and left of the political spectrum through rare, hard to access primary sources.
Primary Sources in Gale Ebooks
Historical Newspaper Databases
Newspaper articles that document an event historically are excellent primary sources.