LettersDiariesMapsPeriod clothingEarly toysVideosAudio recordingsNewspaper clippingsPhotographs

NewsreelsBlueprintsIllustrationsOld postcardsDocumentsRelics, artifacts, antiques, etc.Old toolsEyewitness accountsDrawingsOld posters

Material created at the time history was being made.Material created at the time history was being made.

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A girl found a box of letters written by a soldier to his wife and A girl found a box of letters written by a soldier to his wife and children during the Civil War. Are those letters primary children during the Civil War. Are those letters primary documents?documents?

My grandmother found a diary written by a daughter of a My grandmother found a diary written by a daughter of a Civil War soldier dated from 1863-1865. She talked about Civil War soldier dated from 1863-1865. She talked about what the war was like in South Carolina. Is that a primary what the war was like in South Carolina. Is that a primary document?document?

I went to visit my grandmother. She gave me a chest. The I went to visit my grandmother. She gave me a chest. The chest was filled with her childhood items. She told me that chest was filled with her childhood items. She told me that she loved her things. When I opened it, I found her toys, she loved her things. When I opened it, I found her toys, some photographs and her birth certificate. Are those some photographs and her birth certificate. Are those things primary documents?things primary documents?

I went to the library and found a newspaper written in 2005 I went to the library and found a newspaper written in 2005 about the first Native American tribes. Is that newspaper a about the first Native American tribes. Is that newspaper a primary document?primary document?

My sister and I went to the museum in town. We saw My sister and I went to the museum in town. We saw posters and buttons for the Governor’s race from 1980. Are posters and buttons for the Governor’s race from 1980. Are those a primary documents?those a primary documents?

Our town has a festival each year. In 1999, a newspaper reporter wrote an article on the celebration and festival. I found that 1999 newspaper at the library with that article. Is that a primary document?

Yesterday, my brother Sam wrote a story about the Yesterday, my brother Sam wrote a story about the Louisiana Purchase which occurred in 1803. Is his story Louisiana Purchase which occurred in 1803. Is his story considered a primary documentconsidered a primary document? ?

One South Carolina’s Governors was Strom Thurmond. He One South Carolina’s Governors was Strom Thurmond. He gave a speech in 1950. There is a film (video clip) of his gave a speech in 1950. There is a film (video clip) of his speech. Is that video clip a primary document?speech. Is that video clip a primary document?

One famous painter in the 16One famous painter in the 16thth century was Leonardo Da century was Leonardo Da Vinci. He painted a special picture called the “Mona Lisa.” Vinci. He painted a special picture called the “Mona Lisa.” That That originaloriginal painting is hanging in a museum in France. Is painting is hanging in a museum in France. Is that a primary document?that a primary document?

At our town museum, I saw many old tools, spinning wheels At our town museum, I saw many old tools, spinning wheels and other artifacts from the year 1899. Are those items and other artifacts from the year 1899. Are those items primary documents?primary documents?

My grandmother wrote letters to her cousin about Mardi My grandmother wrote letters to her cousin about Mardi Gras festivals in New Orleans in 1959. She found the mask Gras festivals in New Orleans in 1959. She found the mask that my granny wore that year. My cousin found the box of that my granny wore that year. My cousin found the box of letters and the mask and mailed the package to me. Are letters and the mask and mailed the package to me. Are those primary documents?those primary documents?

I wanted to do a report on how colonists arrived here in South Carolina. I interviewed someone who knew about it. I couldn’t interview anyone who was there, because they are not living anymore. I made a video last week about colonial life in the 1700’s. Is that a primary source?

My father told me a story about how the Superdome was My father told me a story about how the Superdome was built in the 1970’s. My dad was 19 years old when it opened built in the 1970’s. My dad was 19 years old when it opened in 1975. He said he remembers everything about the in 1975. He said he remembers everything about the opening. My dad told me the story. He took pictures and opening. My dad told me the story. He took pictures and bought souvenirs that day. Would the story he told me, the bought souvenirs that day. Would the story he told me, the photos and other items be considered primary sources?photos and other items be considered primary sources?

When I went to visit my great grandfather last fall, I found a When I went to visit my great grandfather last fall, I found a box of old postcards that his grandfather mailed while he box of old postcards that his grandfather mailed while he was fighting in World War I. Are those postcards primary was fighting in World War I. Are those postcards primary documents?documents?

A month ago, I read a book about the Civil War. I enjoyed A month ago, I read a book about the Civil War. I enjoyed learning about the Civil War very much. I had to make a learning about the Civil War very much. I had to make a report, so I wrote my research paper on how the Civil War report, so I wrote my research paper on how the Civil War began in 1861. Is my report considered a primary began in 1861. Is my report considered a primary document?document?

When I went to the library last week, I saw a map that was When I went to the library last week, I saw a map that was made in 1960. It shows the streets and roads in my town at made in 1960. It shows the streets and roads in my town at that time. It was a surveyors map that the mayor of the that time. It was a surveyors map that the mayor of the town wanted to have printed at that time. Is that 1960 map a town wanted to have printed at that time. Is that 1960 map a primary document?primary document?

When my mom was born, my grandmother started a diary When my mom was born, my grandmother started a diary for my mother. She wrote about what was happening at the for my mother. She wrote about what was happening at the time she was born. In the diary, she also put my mom’s time she was born. In the diary, she also put my mom’s birth certificate, baby pictures, newspaper articles, a snip birth certificate, baby pictures, newspaper articles, a snip of her hair and the document with her baby handprints and of her hair and the document with her baby handprints and footprints. Are those all primary documents?footprints. Are those all primary documents?

At a museum in Washington D.C., a historian found a letter written by Abraham Lincoln in 1864. Is that letter a primary document?

I was looking in the attic for information about my great, great I was looking in the attic for information about my great, great grandfather. I found his birth certificate, his high school diploma, grandfather. I found his birth certificate, his high school diploma, some letters he wrote during World War II, his uniform, his some letters he wrote during World War II, his uniform, his wedding ring and his marriage certificate to my great, great wedding ring and his marriage certificate to my great, great grandmother. Are those all primary documents?grandmother. Are those all primary documents?

My great grandfather sang a song on old recorder. The museum has the audio tape of his singing. On the tape his says the year is 1935 and then he sings his old French song. Is that audio recording a primary document?