Examples of Primary Sources (A Partial List)
1. Artifacts: Tools, fossils, period clothing, animal/specimens, machines, etc.
2. Audio recordings: White House tapes, a taped interview, radio show or speech, etc.
3. Diaries, notebooks, sketch pads
4. E-mail or text messages
5. Interviews: In-person, by telephone, by e-mail, by live chat, by text, etc.
6. Peer-reviewed journal articles reporting original research
7. Personal letters
8. Historical newspaper articles written at the time being studied
9. Original official documents: Birth and death certificates, wills, trial transcripts, etc.
10. Photographs
11. Proceedings of meetings, conferences, etc.
12. Government treaties, laws, constitutions, bills, acts, etc.
13. Speeches (taped or live)
14. Surveys, polls, or census results (raw data)
15. Television programs, movies, computer games, etc.
16. Websites (the sites, themselves; not necessarily their content)
17. Raw data websites: NASA, USGS, etc.
18. Blogs and vlogs
19. Works of art, architecture, literature and music
Website Referenced: http://libguides.nyit.edu/content.php?pid=183440&sid=1542072
1. The Reference and User Services Association--which is part of the American Library Association--has created a website dedicated to this topic. Please click here to view the website for further information.
2. Yale University offers a more infographic approach to deciphering the differences between the types of information sources. Click here to be directed to the website