Readings in Philippine History

Module 1
Section 1 (Distinction between Primary and Secondary Sources)

Intended Learning Outcomes:

1. Differentiate primary and secondary source and historical records.
2. Identify possible repositories of primary sources.

Discussion:
Primary Sources are considered as contemporary accounts of an events, personally written
or narrated by an individual person who directly experienced or participated in the said event which
includes materials that captures the most such as photographs, voice and video recordings and the
like. Those materials are considered as original sources that directly narrate the details of the event in
the form of diary or journal entries, letters, memoirs, journals, speeches, interviews, official records
such as government publications minutes reports, artwork and artifacts.

Secondary Sources serve as interpretations or readings of primary sources. Usually, the

author of a piece incorporates his or her personal insights or interpretations thus detaching the
original value of the component of the subject discussed contain analysis of primary sources by
experts, academicians or professionals unite form of published works as journals, articles, reviews
works, conference papers and documentaries.