Primary Sources for Historical Research

Primary resources are documents or artifacts created by someone with first hand knowledge of the timeframe at hand. Some examples are:

• Letters
• Diaries
• Photographs
• Newspaper articles

But there are others as well. 

Still not sure? Watch this short slide show.

• Was the author/creator directly involved in the event/era you are studying?
• Could s/he have had firsthand knowledge of what was going on?
• Have I verified that this item is actually from the time period it says it's from?

When in doubt, ask a librarian. 

Colleen Marquis

227 Thompson Library
810.762.3402

cmarqui@umich.edu