RESEARCH

What Are Primary Sources?

Primary sources are first-hand evidence created at the time of an event or by someone who directly experienced it.

They provide direct insight into a topic and are defined by their content—not their format.

Examples of Primary Sources:

• Artifacts (tools, clothing, fossils, coins)
  
  

• Letters and diaries
  
  

• Photographs
  
  

• Speeches and speech transcripts
  
  

• Interviews and oral histories
  
  

• Original government documents (laws, treaties, court transcripts)
  
  

• Newspapers written at the time of the event
  
  

• Original research studies presenting data
  
  

• Survey results and raw data
  
  

• Works of art, music, and literature created during the time period studied
  
  

💡 Important: A source is primary only if you are analyzing it as direct evidence. The same type of source can be primary or secondary depending on how it is used.