Anoop Randhawa

History 12

Primary Sources (Blog Post #1):

● A primary source from the era of WWI: A postcard (Example 1)

(Front side)

(Back side)

● Description:
○ Format: Postcard
○ Title: 204. La Grande Guerre 1914-1917 -- La Panne (Belgique): effet d'un
seul obus de 75 sur la maison d'un espion
■ This translates to 204. The Great War 1914-1917 - La Panne
(Belgium): effect of a single 75 shell on the house of a spy
○ Photograph of a man standing in front of a mound of rubble that was once his
house
○ Date Created: 1914 - 1917
○ Historical Era: World War I, 1914-1918
 ○ Publisher: Phototypie Baudiniere
○ Caption: Phot-express -- vise Paris 204
○ Language: French
○ Contributing Organization: University of Minnesota Libraries, Upper Midwest
Literary Archives.
○ This is a postcard produced during WWI, specifically sometime between
1914-1917

● Why is this considered to be a primary source?

○ This is a primary source because it is a piece of information from the time of
WWI
○ It is important to recognize that at the time of the war, postcards were a
universal medium of communication
■ During WWI, postcards were very popular and acted as the economic
pillar of a vast printing industry throughout western Europe
■ Postcards were inexpensive as well as creative in the message their
pictures conveyed
■ Postcards were created to communicate the full range of human
thought
● This explains why they are considered important cultural and
historical artifacts
● This postcard is not simply just a snapshot of a world at war
○ It is a virtual window into the minds and hearts of the
people who lived through the Great War

● A primary source from the era of WWI: A poster (Example 2)

 ● Description:
○ Format: Poster
○ Title: Dad's on the line busy fighting. What are you doing for those he left
behind? Subscribe now to the Canadian Patriotic Fund.
○ Date Created: Between 1914 and 1918
○ Historical Era: World War I, 1914-1918
○ Issuing Body: Canadian Patriotic Fund
○ Language: English
○ Contributing Organization: Hoover Institution, Library & Archives
○ This is a poster produced during WWI to encourage children on the home
front to contribute towards the war effort. In order to support the war effort,
children were often encouraged to gather scrap metal and ration their food.

● Why is this considered to be a primary source?

○ This is a primary source because it is a piece of information published during
the time of WWI
○ During WWI (1914-1918), posters were a primary method for marketing
■ At the time of the First World War, posters were a means of mass
communication
■ The posters were meant to target a variety of groups of people
● Posters were used to encourage men to enlist for the war
● They were also utilized to encourage women and children on
the home front to support the war effort by purchasing victory
bonds, saving stamps, conserving resources, and rationing
their food
■ Many posters used creative graphics to efficiently communicate their
message
■ Today, posters are primary sources that provide insight into the lives of
Canadians during the Great War

● A primary source from the era of WWI: A letter (Example 3)

(Page 1)
(Page 2)

(Page 3)

● Description:
○ Format: Letter
○ Date Created: March 15th, 1917
○ Historical Era: World War I
○ Sent from: John Henry Anderson (Canadian Soldier)
○ Location: France
○ Language: English
○ Contributing Organization: Canadian Letters and Images Project
○ This is a letter written by Canadian soldier John Henry Anderson on March
15th, 1917. John Henry Anderson was born in Malakwa, British Columbia,
Canada in January, 1892. He enrolled for the war at Vernon, British Columbia
on July 14, 1915 and served with the 7th Bn. Canadian Infantry (British
 Columbia Regiment). He fought at Vimy Ridge and died between April 8th
and April 10th, 1917. In this letter, Anderson writes to his mother and explains
the conditions on the battle front.

● Why is this considered to be a primary source?

○ This is a primary source because it is a piece of information from a soldier
that was directly involved in WWI
○ During WWI (1914-1918), letters were a key method of communication
■ Letters were frequently sent from the battle front to the home front and
vice versa
■ Letters were also used as a method of communication by higher
authorities of countries
■ For many, letters were the only way they could communicate with their
loved ones and receive updates on the circumstances of the war
■ Today, orginal letters from WWI are primary sources that provide great
insight into the lives of Canadians during the war and the conditions of
the war