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How to Read Primary Source

Primary Sources

What are Primary Sources?

Primary sources are materials written by someone who personally experienced or witnessed the event being described. These original documents are not about another document or account. They are not an interpretation of another source.

Types of Primary Sources

  • Autobiographies, diaries, or memoirs
  • Letters
  • Oral histories
  • Collections of documents, or original copies
  • Recordings of speeches or interviews
  • News articles or news footage
  • Creative works (art, films, songs, etc)
  • Objects or artifacts
  • Articles reporting NEW research