Primary vs. Secondary Sources:

Primary and Secondary sources are both invaluable to the historian as well as any other subject.  Differing between the two is sometimes confusing, but entirely possible.  Below are some examples and links to external websites to help you differentiate between primary and secondary sources.

Primary vs. Secondary Sources according to Princeton

Primary Sources:

Primary sources are easily distinguishable by the fact that they are first hand accounts of information:

Original documents like journal entries, auto biographies, letters, or speeches are all primary sources.

Photographs, and videos can also be primary sources and have to be judged on an item by item basis.


Examples:  Speeches (video or transcripts), interviews, official records, news footage (some, not all).

Secondary Sources

Secondary sources are what we mostly deal with in schools.  Text books, reports, peoples opinions (papers) etc are primarily secondary sources.  A good way to decide if it is a secondary source is to look up the author and see if they had any direct contact with the event they are describing, if not, they are most likely a secondary source.

Examples:  News reporters, movie based on a historical event, Newspaper (mostly).  Remember to check each event separately as there are always exceptions to the rule.