[00:00:05.339]
When you are investigating
[00:00:07.490]
a topic, individual, or event
[00:00:09.560]
from the past, or are looking for historical insight,
[00:00:12.939]
primary sources provide an unfiltered
[00:00:15.179]
account that you can use to draw original conclusions.
[00:00:19.339]
A primary source is a document or artifact
[00:00:21.890]
that has survived in its original form and
[00:00:24.000]
provides you a first-hand account of the event,
[00:00:26.239]
person, or time period you are researching.
[00:00:29.539]
They are as close as you can come to experiencing something yourself,
[00:00:33.140]
and provide the raw building blocks of historical research.
[00:00:37.539]
Newspaper coverage from the time period of an
[00:00:39.560]
event can reveal in-the-moment misconceptions and missteps.
[00:00:44.079]
Creative works like songs provide insight
[00:00:46.380]
into culture and social priorities.
[00:00:49.439]
Interviews and personal accounts from individuals
[00:00:51.950]
involved in key historical events impart priceless perspective.
[00:00:56.640]
Before you begin exploring primary sources,
[00:00:59.340]
it may be helpful to use secondary sources like biographies, articles, etc.
[00:01:04.090]
to build your background knowledge of the time period
[00:01:06.170]
in question and brainstorm keywords
[00:01:08.299]
that may appear in original documents from the time.
[00:01:12.170]
As you read a primary source, think critically
[00:01:14.760]
and identify who wrote or produced the source,
[00:01:17.110]
when, and for what audience and purpose.
[00:01:20.540]
Ask yourself what unique insight it provides.
[00:01:24.640]
Transform your research.
[00:01:26.700]
Use primary sources digitized by Gale
[00:01:29.039]
from the world's top libraries and archives.
[00:01:32.600]
Talk to your librarian to learn more
When you are investigating
[00:00:07.490]
a topic, individual, or event
[00:00:09.560]
from the past, or are looking for historical insight,
[00:00:12.939]
primary sources provide an unfiltered
[00:00:15.179]
account that you can use to draw original conclusions.
[00:00:19.339]
A primary source is a document or artifact
[00:00:21.890]
that has survived in its original form and
[00:00:24.000]
provides you a first-hand account of the event,
[00:00:26.239]
person, or time period you are researching.
[00:00:29.539]
They are as close as you can come to experiencing something yourself,
[00:00:33.140]
and provide the raw building blocks of historical research.
[00:00:37.539]
Newspaper coverage from the time period of an
[00:00:39.560]
event can reveal in-the-moment misconceptions and missteps.
[00:00:44.079]
Creative works like songs provide insight
[00:00:46.380]
into culture and social priorities.
[00:00:49.439]
Interviews and personal accounts from individuals
[00:00:51.950]
involved in key historical events impart priceless perspective.
[00:00:56.640]
Before you begin exploring primary sources,
[00:00:59.340]
it may be helpful to use secondary sources like biographies, articles, etc.
[00:01:04.090]
to build your background knowledge of the time period
[00:01:06.170]
in question and brainstorm keywords
[00:01:08.299]
that may appear in original documents from the time.
[00:01:12.170]
As you read a primary source, think critically
[00:01:14.760]
and identify who wrote or produced the source,
[00:01:17.110]
when, and for what audience and purpose.
[00:01:20.540]
Ask yourself what unique insight it provides.
[00:01:24.640]
Transform your research.
[00:01:26.700]
Use primary sources digitized by Gale
[00:01:29.039]
from the world's top libraries and archives.
[00:01:32.600]
Talk to your librarian to learn more