Types of Research Sources

Primary

Secondary

Tertiary

Mr. Lincoln’s Pocketshttp://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0012/bicentennial.html

Objectives:What are good “sources” in for me to use

when I do my research?What are primary, secondary, and

tertiary sources?How and when should I use primary,

secondary, and tertiary sources?How can I tell if a source is reliable?

On Feb. 12, 1976, Librarian of Congress Daniel J. Boorstin opened the package in the Librarian's safe containing the contents of Lincoln's pockets on the night he died.

Why could the items found in a pocket be interesting?

• Pair of small spectacles folded in a silver case• Ivory pocketknife• Brass sleeve button• Fancy watch fob• Eight newspaper clippings praising him

• Search your own pocket, backpack, or purse.

• Pull out an artifact.

• Introduce yourself with your artifact and tell how it reflects who you are as a person.

• Anything you show should be something school you’d be proud to show Mr. Wiles as well.

How to organize your notes todayOpen the NHD 2012 Types of Sources Document (outbox).Add your name to the file and save to your log-in .Answer the questions and fill in the table using the NHD Website and the following slides.

Type of Source Definition Examples

Primary

Secondary

Tertiary

Definition Primary SourceThat which is written or produced in the time period being researched. Primary sources are materials directly related to

the topic by time or participation.

Examples• Letters • Speeches• Diaries• Newspaper articles from the time• Oral history interviews• Documents• Photographs• Artifacts• Or anything else that provides first hand

accounts about a person or event. • This definition also applies to primary

sources found on the internet.

Definition Secondary SourcesUsually published books or articles by authors who were not eyewitnesses

or participants in the historical event of period and who base their interpretation on primary sources, research, and study. These sources

provide context for a historical event.

Examples• High school textbooks• Biographies• Retrospective newspapers• History books• Journal Articles• Magazine articles• This definition also applies to

secondary sources found on the internet.

Definition Tertiary SourcesUsually summaries and collections of primary and secondary sources. They

provide ideas for topics and further investigation

Examples• Almanacs• Encyclopedias• Dictionaries• Guidebooks• Manuals• Anthologies• This definition also applies to

secondary sources found on the internet.

Type of Source Definition ExamplesPrimary That which is written or produced in

the time period being researched. Primary sources are materials directly related to he topic by time or participation.

Letters SpeechesDiariesNewspaper articles from the timeOral history interviewsDocumentsPhotographsArtifactsOr anything else that provides first hand accounts about a person or event. This definition also applies to primary sources found on the internet.

Secondary Usually published books or articles by authors who were not eyewitnesses or participants in the historical event of period and who base their interpretation on primary sources, research, and study. These source provide context for a historical event.

High school textbooksBiographiesRetrospective newspapersHistory booksJournal ArticlesMagazine articlesThis definition also applies to secondary sources found on the internet.

Tertiary Usually summaries and collections of primary and secondary sources. They

provide ideas for topics and further investigation

AlmanacsEncyclopediasDictionariesGuidebooksManualsAnthologiesThis definition also applies to secondary sources found on the internet.

Topic Primary Secondary TertiaryCivil War Photograph by

Mathew BradyArticle on battle

strategies of the Civil War by James

McPherson

Civil War database

Westward Movement

Diary of Sarah Jane Osborne

Monograph on the life of Sara Jane Osborne

Dictionary on wagons of 19th

century

Industrial Revolution

Patent for the sewing machine

Book describing the social changes due to the sewing machine

Manual on the uses of sewing machine

World War I Enlistment Posters for WW I

Web site on WW I Encyclopedia of WW I

World War II War movie filmed in 1943

Magazine article about WW II

Dictionary on WWII

Civil Rights Recording of a speech by Martin Luther King

Jr.

Biography of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Guide to the 1992 movie about MLK

History Show and Tell HomeworkASSIGNMENTASSIGNMENT

• This week, with the help of a family member or an adult who is close to you, look through the artifacts (souvenirs) of your family’s personal history that have been saved . Select one item that you are willing to share with your classmates and teacher and bring it to class along with the answers to the following questions: (Note: You may bring a copy or a photo of the artifact rather than the original if you wish.)– What type of artifact is this?– What is the date of the artifact?– Who created the artifact or what is it’s

origin?– How does the artifact relate to you?

• Due by Wed 1/25 to present in class

For example, these might include one of the following…

• Old photographs• Letters• Diaries• Newspaper clippings • Birth certificates• A report card• A library or social security card• War memorabilia• A typewriters• Your grandmother’s bell bottoms

from the 1960s

• Tell us the following… – Your name– What type of artifact you brought– What is the date of the artifact?

• Today’s date• Date it came into your family• Date you think it was created

– Who created the artifact or what is it’s origin? What’s it’s story

– How does the artifact relate to you or your family?