Primary sources are original artifacts or documents. They offer contemporary accounts from participants or people directly involved in an event. Examples of primary sources include, but are not limited to:
While secondary sources are further removed from events and often reflect the author's perspective, using primary sources enables you to work with raw material and draw your own conclusions.
The Undergraduate Library has created a guide that contains information for finding different types of primary sources.
Secondary sources address or analyze events, people, works, or topics after the fact, unlike primary sources which provide firsthand accounts.
Examples of secondary sources include:
Secondary sources allow you to broaden your research by providing background information, analyses, and unique perspectives one or more steps removed from an original event or work.
The Undergraduate Library has created a guide that contains information for finding different types of secondary sources.
