Primary Sources
What are Primary Sources?
"Primary sources are the raw materials of history — original documents and objects that were created at the time under study. They are different from secondary sources, accounts that retell, analyze, or interpret events, usually at a distance of time or place."
Getting Started with Primary Sources : Teachers: Programs: Library of Congress. The Library of Congress. (n.d.). https://www.loc.gov/programs/teachers/getting-started-with-primary-sources/.Smithsonian Institution
This resource, created by the Smithsonian National Museum of American History provides an overview of primary sources including: documents, photographs, oral histories, and objects. It features worksheets with prompts for using each of the above types of primary sources, websites where primary sources can be accessed, and a bibliography for reference. Great for both students and educators and also for exploring topics of research.
Engaging Students with Primary Sources
The DPLA is an excellent choice for finding primary source sets on a variety of topics and also has a handy feature called My Lists that allows you to create and manage lists of sources found through your database searches. Your lists are only visible to you and you can use them to easily find sources for later use. Be sure to check out the copyright status of your sources and cite or give credit accordingly. This resource is also useful for research.