Embedded Files
Primary Source Databases
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Library of Congress huge collection by SUBJECT
Digital Public Library of America images, texts, video, sound
Internet History Sourcebooks Project (Fordham) ancient, medieval, modern timeperiods
Library of Congress huge collection by SUBJECT
The National Archives Catalog government docs
Primary Source Definition
Primary sources are "fundamental, authoritative documents relating to a subject, original records, contemporary documents, etc." (Young, Heartsill, ed. The ALA Glossary of Library and Information Science. Chicago: American Library Association, 1983, p.176).
Primary sources are first-hand accounts by a direct participant or observer; examples include: interviews (transcript or video), letters, diary entries, photographs, documentaries, maps, government documents, etc.
Originals are usually held in museums, archives, libraries and government buildings. Digital versions of documents are often found online.
Primary Source Analysis Tools
Observe: What do you notice? What do you notice that you didn't expect? What do you notice that you can't explain? What do you notice now that you didn't earlier? Find something small but interesting.
Question: What do you wonder about... ? who? what? where? when? why? how?
Reflect: Where do you think this came from? Why do thing somebody made this? What do you tink was happening when this was made? Who do you think the audience for this item? What tool was used to create this? Why do you think this item is important? If someone made this today, what would be different? What can you learn from examining this?
Primary Source analysis 6 Cs.pdfThe 6 Cs of Primary Source Analysis
written_document_analysis_worksheet.pdfHow to Analyze a Written Document
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