African American Studies  Tags: africanamerican studies  

Primary sources are firsthand accounts of an event - or original records created during its time period - which do not contain any outside interpretation. Examples include:

• letters, diaries, interviews
• historical news reportage
• original works of fiction, art, or music
• original research or data
• testimony or speeches

Primary sources are usefel because they give researchers a better understanding of an event, written by someone who experienced or witnessed the event in question.

Secondary sources are one step removed from the original event.  They provide criticism or interpretation of a primary source.

For more information, check out this video.

Looking for examples of historical documents?  Original book reviews?  Letters and diaries?  Try searching in these sources. 

Looking for images of historical events, places, or individuals? Try searching in these sources.