Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Information may be presented to you as a primary or secondary source.

Primary source materials are original works recorded at the time of an event. Examples of primary sources include drawings, letters, diaries, research data, films, speeches, songs, and first-person accounts.

Secondary source materials are created by someone either not present when the event took place, or removed by time from the event. Examples of secondary sources include textbooks, journal articles, histories, and encyclopedias.

Mouse over each subject below to see examples of primary and secondary sources.