Understanding Primary Sources and Archives

The video tutorial explains the importance of primary sources in history essays, defining them as records or objects created by participants or observers of an event. It lists examples such as diaries, letters, and photos, and contrasts them with secondary sources, which analyze or interpret primary sources. The tutorial guides viewers on where to find primary sources, including personal collections, university archives, and digital formats. It highlights library resources, digital collections, and themed databases, and encourages using local archives. The video concludes with a call for feedback.

What are primary sources?

• Articles summarizing historical events

• Fictional stories set in historical times

• Records or objects created by participants or observers of an event

• Books written by historians

Which of the following is NOT a primary source?

• A modern history textbook

• A newspaper article from the 1800s

• A letter written by a president

• A diary from a soldier in World War II

Where might you find a single copy of a primary source?

• In a personal collection

• In a modern library

• In a history textbook

• In a digital database

If you wanted to research the Avro Arrow, where should you look?

• Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa

• A local bookstore

• A university history department

• The New York Times archives

What is a benefit of digitized collections?

• They are only available in physical form

• They can be accessed from anywhere with internet

• They are not reliable sources

• They are limited to recent documents

Which newspaper is NOT mentioned as a source for historical articles?

• The Washington Post

• The New York Times

• The Illustrated London News

• The Globe and Mail

What is a themed collection in the context of primary sources?

• A random assortment of documents

• A collection of modern essays

• A collection of fictional stories

• A database focused on a specific topic

How are many archives making their collections more accessible?

• By selling them to private collectors

• By restricting access to researchers only

• By digitizing them and making them available online

• By keeping them in physical form only

Where can you find Laurier's archives?

• On the first floor of the Waterloo Campus Library

• In a separate building on campus

• In the basement of the Waterloo Campus Library

• On the second floor of the Waterloo Campus Library

What should you do if you have questions about finding primary sources?

• Search on Google

• Ask a librarian at library.wlu.ca

• Consult a history textbook

• Visit a local museum