Primary Sources Primary sources are original materials. As the basis for research, they have not been filtered through interpretation or evaluation. Photographs, speeches, diaries, and audio recordings of radio programs are all examples of primary sources.
During instruction sessions, students are encouraged to evaluate:
Who created the source? What is the historical context for this source? What is shown and not shown in this source? How might people have reacted to this source at the time of its creation?
How does this source fit into what I know about my research topic?
Photos: Baltimore News-American Photo Archive and Philip Geraci Collection in Hornbake Library.
5