Primary Sources: artifacts or pieces of information in which the creator was an actual participant in or contemporary of the historical event. A primary source captures the words, thoughts or intentions of the past. You must interpret a primary source to determine its bias, purpose and value to you as a researcher.
Secondary Sources: usually created by historians or others interpreting historical events, and are written/created years after the historical event. A secondary source interprets historical events in a larger context.
Examples
| Primary Sources |
Secondary Sources |
|
diary entries photographs letters legislation official records speeches interview with a participant or witness to an event newspaper article from the time of the event (factual) artwork |
books documentaries article giving an overview or interpretation of an event biography interview with an expert review or criticism of a book or movie |
NoodleTools is available for us to use with the NHD project. NoodleTools can help you to cite and keep track of your sources, organize research by "note cards", create outlines and timelines for completing your project.
See log in information here.
