HISTORICAL PRIMARY SOURCES

 Primary source is a first hand or contemporary account of an event or topic. Primary sources are
original materials regardless of format. These sources have not been modified by interpretation and
offer original thought or new information.

 Some examples of primary sources ; Letters, Dairies, Photographs artifacts, Interviews, and sound or
video recordings created as a time or event is occurring, Oral histories, Newspaper or Journal
articles, and memoirs or autobiographies are examples of primary sources created after the event or
time in question but offering first hand accounts.

5 HISTORICAL PRIMARY SOURCES

1. Poems

2. Photographs

3. Journals

4. Memoirs

5. Autobiographies

 AUTOBIOGRAPHIES
*The biography of a person narrated by that person

* A usually written account of a person's life in their own words.

Examples of autobiographies;

1. Maya Angelou, I know Why the Cage Bird Sings

* Angelou's autobiography is the first installment in a seven volume series chronicling the life of the
legendary poet, teacher, actress, director, dancer and civil rights activist. Given all those roles, its easy to see
why Angelou's life story makes for interesting reading.

* This volume centers primarily on her early life in stamps, Arkansas, and the devastating effects of a
childhood rape. It also explores racism in the American South.It discusses the important role readings plays in
helping young Maya deal with the sexual assault and pervasive prejudice in her environment.

2. Helen Keller, The Story of My Life

* Details her first 20 years, starting with the childhood illness that caused her blindness and deafness. She
discusses the obstacles she had to overcome and the life changing relationship she shared with her teachers,
Anne Sullivan, who helped her learn to read and write.

* Keller also documents her friendships with several famous figures of her day including Alexander Graham
Bell, John Greenleaf Whittier, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and First Lady Frances Cleveland.

3. Vinh Chung, Where the Wind Leads

* Chung autobiography recalls the harrowing story of a Vietnamese refuge and his journey to make the
American Dream his own. Born in South Vietnam, Chung comes of age in a changing political climate that
eventually compels his family to the country.

* Their voyage takes them through the South China Sea, run-ins with pirates resettlement in Arkansas, and
Chung's graduation from Havard Medical School.

4. Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes

* Based on the best selling autobiography by Irish expatriate Frank McCourt, Angela's Ashes follows the
experiences of young Frankie and his family as they try against all odds to escape the poverty.

* Endemic in the slums of pre war Limerick.

5. Karl Ove Knausgaard, My Struggle

* A powerful, but deeply frustrated patriarch, the older Knausgaard haunts his son's life both before and after
his death. His alcoholic dissolution ends (for himself at least) in the inevitable tragedy, but for his son's, the
suffering continues into an agonizing but also occasionally cathartic aftermath.

 MEMOIRS

* Written not only to tell the subjects own story, but also to document the story of authors time.

* Part of your life story in that its a collection of experiences, memories, or events that take place in a
person's life. It is not an autobiography, but rather a true experience from the writer's life that creatively
written and incorporates research.

* Writing memoir is a different to journalizing moments or events in your life. If you want your memoir to be
successful, you will also need storytelling skills. And writing a memoir can be ah complex, daunting exercise,
depending on the subject or topic of your books.

Examples of memoirs;

1. On Writing by Stephen King

* This memoir " is a revealing and practical view of the writer's craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade
every writer must have.

2. The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

* This book came into the spotlight when the movie was made.

* This is a touching story, with a lot of emotion. Walls tells the story of her childhood, living with her
nomadic, alcoholic parents.

3. Beautiful Boy by David Shepp.

* This is another memoir that was turned into a movie recently. And laso, a very emotional story. Shepp
shares his life dealing with his son's shocking descent into substance abuse and his gradual emergence into
hope.

4. Direct from Dell by Michael Dell

* This book is the incredible story of Dell Computers successful rise, begining in his college dorm room with
$1,000 in capital.

5. Anyone Can Do It by Duncan Bannatyne

* Similar to Dell's memoir the topic of this memoir is business.

6. Get Me Out of Here by Rachel Reiland

* Reveals what mental illness looks and feels life from the inside, and how healing from borderline
personality disorder possible through of loved ones.

7. Broken by Shy Keenan

* A heart arenching story of incredible child abuse. The subtitle say it all: " The most shocking true story of
abuse ever told.

8. The Liars Club

* Is a memoir by American author Mary Karr. Published in 1995, it tells the story of Karrs childhood in the
1960s in a small industrial town in Southeast Texas

* The tittle refers to her father and his friends who would gather to drink and tell stories when not working at
the oil refinery or the chemical plant.

 JOURNALS

* Is an academic serial publication designed to present new scholarship on a historical subject, usually a
subfield of history, with articles generally being subjected to peer review.

Examples of journals:
* In may 1941 Lena Mukhina was an ordinary teenage girl, living in Leningrad, worrying about her homework
and wether vova the boy she like - liked her. Then on 22 June 1941, Hitler broke his pact with Stulin and
declared war on the Soviet Union.

2.

* A collection of scintillating first hand accounts of restoration England, from the most tumultuous events to
the simplest domestic pleasures.

* The 1960s represent a turning point in English history, and for the main events - the Restoration, the Dutch
War, the Great Plague, the Fire of London - Pepys provides a definitive eyewitness accounts. As well as
recording public and historical events, Pepys's paints a Vivid picture of his personal life.

3.
* So wrote Nella Last in her diary on 2 September 1949. More than 60 years on tens of thousands of people
have read and enjoyed three volumes of her vivid and moving diaries, written during the second World War
and it's aftermath as parts of the Macs Observation project and the basis for BAFTA - Wining drama
Housewife 49 starring Victoria Wood.

4.

* This is what Anne Frank confided in her diary on 5 April 1944. Her wish did come true, but she herself was
never to know that. Anne died in March 1945 in Bergen - Belsen concentration camp. She was 15 years old.

5.
* First published in 1913, Captain Scotts horrowing,

account of his expedition to the South Pole in 1910-12

has become the stuff of legend.

6.
* An intimate journey from the first stirrings of his political conscience to his galvanizing role on the world
stage, encompassing the anti - apartheid struggles of the early 1960s as well as his twenty - seven years of
imprisonment.

7.

* An extraordinary account of the devastation and human

suffering inficted on the city of London by the Great Plague

of 1665 from the author of Robinson Crusoe.

 PHOTOGRAPHS

✓ Photography refers to the process or practice of creating a photograph - an

image produced by the action of light on a light - sensitive material.

Examples of photographies:

1. Henri Cartier - Bressons famous photo

Man Jumping the Puddle - 1930

√ In this one of his most iconic photos Henri Cartier - Bresson captured a scene
through a fence behind the Saint - Lazare train station in Paris.
√ This image became the perfect example of what Cartier - Bresson refered to as
" The Decisive Moment".

√ The French photographer is often reffered to as the father of modern

photojournalism. He coined the term " The Decisive Moment" to refer a
moment when the photographer captures a fleeting second, immortalizing it in
time.

2. The Steerage by Alfred Stieglitz- 1907

√ One of the most famous photographers of the early 20th Century, Stieglitz
fought for photography to be taken as seriously as painting as a valid art form.
√ His pioneering work helped to change the way many viewed photography. His
NYC galleries featured many of the best photographers of the day.

3. Stanley Formans famous photo

Woman Falling From Fire Escape- 1975

√ This famous photograph won Forman a Pulitzer prize. But it's interesting
legacy is the ethical questions it raised about when a photographer should stop
shooting and wether it is appropriate to publish disturbing images.
√ I also caused many municipalities to enforce stricter fire - escape safety codes,
so you decide.

4. Kevin Carters

Controversial photo - Starving Child and Vulture- 1993

√ In 1993 South African photojournalist Kevin Carter traveled to Sudan to

photograph the famine. His image of a collapsed child, with a vulture stalking
over her. Not only caused public outrage because of the horrific subject. It also
stirred up a lot of criticism directed toward the photographer, for
photographing the child, rather than helping her.

√ That day, and the onslaught that came after continued to haunt Carter until he
took his own life.

5. Eddie Adams

Saigon Execution - 1968

√ Believing he was witnessing a routine execution of a prisoner. He looked

through the viewfinder of his camera, to capture the scene. But what he
captured was the casual assassination of the prisoner.
√ This iconic photo became one of the most powerful images of the Vietnam
War. It helped fuel the anti war movement and end US involvement in the war
because it brought to life in a horrific visual, the magnitude of the violence
occuring.

 POEMS

√ Historical poetry is a subgenre of poetry that has its roots in history. It's aim is
to delineate events of the past by incorporating elements of artful composition
and poetic diction.

Examples of poems:

1. Philippines Is A Blessed Nation

Philippines is a country

Blessed with beauties and nature,

A country that has

Their own unique culture

Through we may think Philippines

Is corrupted and poor,

But with all the problems it faced

It was still able to endure

Natural resources are also rich in this land

With farmer who work hard,hand in hand

They plow the field and harvest grains

For our sake they work in pain.

Philippines has a very interesting history

It will certainly take time to uncover it's mystery

And when all of these we'll be able to study

We'll now understand its secrets and beauty.

Yes indeed Philippines is a blessed nation

The one thing it lacks is diligence and cooperation

Hod love this country and understands our pain

So if we strive harder all our lost will become our gain.

Philippines might become a better county one day

Because with Gods help,we know that there's still a way.

-Ramon Amancio Estanque

2. Philippines: The Place You'd Love To Be

Have you ever been to the Philippines?

My true country the place you need to see.

Look for all of its natural beauty

Travel across by air,by land,by sea

Enjoy all the beautiful scenaries.

The pearl of the rises like the golden rays

And it welcomes you with a tight embrace

In Luzon, help through the Hundred Islands.

In Visayas see the Chocolate Hills.

In Mindanao climb up the Mount Apo.

And all of these places you need to see,

Satisfy your eyes with the scenaries.

The Philippines is where you need to be

- George Leana Benedictos

3. FILIPINOS

Filipinos are hard working and responsible

Friendly to others and all hospitable

Good moral values and respectful most of all

With long - patience and all lovable.

Filipinos help each other whether rich or poor

For those who needs especially the neighbour

Filipinos are brave and pride they stand for

To protect and fight for country are worth dying for.

Filipinos are always smiling

Though some nation keep on insulting

For being simple low status of living

But hearts and mind are rich human being.

I am proud to be Filipino in blood and skin

The religion of Christianity in God we believed in

The own mothertoungue we use and for grand children

The culture and tradition from ancient till next generation.

- Judith Kempis

4. The Soldier by Rubert Brooke

If i should die think only this of me

That there's some corner of a foreign field

That is forever England. There shall be

In that rich Earth a richer dust concealed

A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware

Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam

A body of England, breathing English air

Washed by the rivers blest by suns of home.

And think this heart all evil shed away

A pulse in the eternal mind no less

Gives somewhere back the thoughts by england given;

Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day

And laughter learn of friends and gentleness

In hearts at peace under an English heaven.

5. Modern War

They say the desert dog will learn.

From his arch enemy the might lion.

It seems to me that were those cities burn

There must be mothers left in sadness, crying

Once on a time they were the hunted, it is true

They died on fields and at the hands of cruel men.

Today the pilot says we're doing this for you

Do not compare my friend you did not live back then.

- Herbert Nehrlich