Primary and Secondary Sources

A primary source is something created during or right after an event. A diary, a photograph, or a letter from the past are primary sources. A secondary source is created later by someone who studied the event. A textbook or biography is a secondary source. Both types are useful for research.

Examples of Primary Sources

Primary sources include diaries, letters, photographs, and speeches. A newspaper article written the day something happened is a primary source. So is a video of an event. These sources give you a firsthand look at what really happened.

Examples of Secondary Sources

Secondary sources include textbooks, encyclopedias, and documentaries. A biography of Abraham Lincoln is a secondary source because it was written after his life. Secondary sources are helpful because they explain and organize information from primary sources.

Fun Facts

• A fossil is a primary source from millions of years ago.
• Historians spend years studying primary sources to understand the past.
• Your own diary is a primary source for your life.

Did You Know?

The Declaration of Independence is a famous primary source that you can see at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.