Road to Revolution: Primary Source

Primary Source vs. Secondary Source

A primary source is a document that shows direct, immediate or firsthand knowledge of a subject or event. It is a document written at the time or on the scene where an event occurred. These include: 

• Autobiographies
• Diaries/Journals
• Letters
• Speeches
• Travel Accounts
• Messages and Papers
• Government Documents
• Magazine/Newspaper Articles
• Manuscripts
• Photographs
• Other Non-Text Materials

Secondary sources are those writings without direct knowledge of a topic or event. These include biographies, monographs, and general periodical articles. Secondary sources are written by people who did not witness or experience an event but have a great deal of knowledge about the topic. Writers often use primary sources in their writing of secondary sources!