Primary Sources

Content
Information Sources
Primary Sources
Examples
Problems of primary sources
Crucial role of primary sources
Where to find primary sources
How to evaluate primary sources
Conclusions
References
Information Sources
An information source is a person, thing, or place from which
information comes, arises, or is obtained. The classification of
information sources is based on the originality of the material and
the proximity of the source or origin. This informs the reader as to
whether the information reported is first hand or the experiences
and opinions of others which is considered second hand. There are
three types of information sources; Primary, Secondary, Tertiary.
Primary Sources
Library of Congress defines “Primary sources are the raw materials of
history — original documents and objects that were created at the time
under study.” Primary sources are original, first-hand records of events,
experiences, or research, that provide direct evidence or information
about a topic without any interpretation or analysis by a third party. They
represent
•Original thinking
•Reports on discoveries or events
•New information that has not been shared before
•Formal appearance of original research
Whether something is a primary or secondary source often depends upon the
topic and its use. The nature and value of a source cannot be determined
without reference to the topic and questions it is meant to answer. The same
document, or other piece of evidence, may be a primary source in one
investigation and secondary in another.
•In scientific literature, a primary source is the original publication of a
scientist's new data, results, and theories, original thinking, report on
discoveries.
•In political science, primary sources are documents such as official reports,
speeches, pamphlets, posters, or letters by participants, official election
returns, and eyewitness accounts.
•In History, Primary sources are any reference materials directly related to an
event, such as an eyewitness account, a photograph or video of the incident, or
a physical artifact.
•If research topic is literature, then old literature counts as a primary source.
Examples
Theses, dissertations, scholarly journal articles, some government
reports, conference proceedings, original artwork, poems,
photographs, speeches, letters, memos, diaries, interviews,
correspondence, biographies, autobiographies, manuscripts, oral
histories, government documents, statistical data, research reports,
creative art works, literature, newspaper advertisements and reportage
and editorial/opinion pieces.
Problems of Primary Sources
•Scattered information
•Bias and objective
•Coverage is limited
Crucial role of primary sources
•Authenticity
•Validity and reliability
•Replicability
•Credibility
•Innovation
•Historical context
•Uniqueness
Where To Find Primary Sources
•Libraries and Archives
•Online resources
•Online Databases
•Museums
•Personal Collections
•Journals
How to evaluate a primary source
•Consider the source's origin and purpose
•Examine the content
•Analyse the language and tone
•Assess the source's reliability
•Consider the source's relevance
•Compare with other sources
 Conclusions
In summary, primary sources provide a direct, unfiltered view of events, people, and
cultures from the time they occurred. They are valuable resources for historians,
scholars, and researchers who seek to understand and interpret the knowledge
available on first-hand evidence. As, primary sources are widely scattered, so
information in primary sources is constantly being compressed, organized and
rearranged according to some definite plan and communicated through another set
of publications called secondary sources of information. Primary sources are
essential because they provide accurate, reliable, and credible information that can
be used to validate research findings, replicate experiments, generate new ideas, and
understand historical context. They can be accessed through, Libraries and
Archives, Online resources, Online Databases, Museums, Personal Collections,
Journals. Evaluating a primary source involves critically analysing its content and
context to determine its reliability, accuracy, and relevance to your research
question.
 References
1. Getting Started with Primary Sources | Teachers | Programs | Library of Congress. (n.d.). [Web
page]. Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved March 2, 2023, from
https://www.loc.gov/programs/teachers/getting-started-with-primary-sources/
2. Making the Case with Primary Sources | Introduction. (n.d.). Retrieved March 2, 2023, from
https://thinkport.org/casemaker/index.html
3. Mallik, S. (n.d.). Information sources in academic law libraries in India. Retrieved March 2, 2023,
from
https://www.academia.edu/16817014/Information_sources_in_academic_law_libraries_in_Indi
a
4. Hurt, C D. (1998). Information Sources in Science and Technology. (3nd ed.). Libraries Unlimited.
5. Association of College and Research Libraries’ Rare Book and Manuscript Section. (2018).
Guidelines for Primary Source Literacy. Retrieved March 2, 2023, from
GuidelinesForPrimarySourceLiteracy-June2018.pdf (archivists.org).
Thank You