Primary vs. Secondary Sources

A source that is a first-hand account of an event, a person's life, or moment in time. The original records of a specific time in history.

• Primary Source

• Secondary Source

A source that is written or created after (often well after) the original event or moment in time. A secondhand account that is often created using primary sources and is the work of people who were not present when the original event(s) occurred.

• Primary Source

• Secondary Source

Newspaper article: Is this a primary or secondary source?

• Primary Source

• Secondary Source

History Textbook: Is this a primary or secondary source?

• Primary Source

• Secondary Source

Encyclopedia article: Is this a primary or secondary source?

• Primary source

• Secondary source

Diary entries: Is this a primary or secondary source?

• Primary source

• Secondary source

Eyewitness interview: Is this a primary or secondary source?

• Primary source

• Secondary source

Biographies: Is this a primary or secondary source?

• Primary source

• Secondary source

Artifacts: Is this a primary or secondary source?

• Primary source

• Secondary source

Magazine article: Is this a primary or secondary source?

• Primary source

• Secondary source