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HIST111: Creating the American Nation
What is a primary source?

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HIST111: Creating the American Nation

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What is a primary source?
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HIST 250: African American History to 1865Toggle Dropdown
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What are primary sources?

Primary sources are the evidence of history, original records or objects created by participants or observers at the time historical events occurred or even well after events, as in memoirs and oral histories. -- RUSA, a Division of ALA

Some examples:

letters,
manuscripts,
diaries,
journals
newspapers
maps
speeches
interviews
documents produced by government agencies
photographs
audio or video recordings
emails
research data
objects or artifacts (such as works of art or ancient roads, buildings, tools, and weapons)

Some primary sources may be created after an event by people who experienced the event. Some examples:

memoirs
oral histories

Credit

Content credit: Pikes Peak Community College Libraries, History: Primary Sources

Primary Source - Infographic

Infographic by Shonn Haren, Library at Wichita State University

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Last Updated: Feb 23, 2024 4:25 PM
URL: https://libguides.hollins.edu/CreatingAmericanNation
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Subjects: History

Tags: history