"A primary source is a document that was created at the time of the event or subject you've chosen to study, or by people who were observers of, or participants in that event or topic."
- E.H. Brown - Writing about History, UofT Writing Advice

For example, articles and reviews published at contemporary time to a film’s release are primary sources. 

To find primary sources, remember you need to restrict your search results to materials published close to the time of your film or event. If they are published later, they are secondary sources.  

Secondary Sources are documents and creative works (images, film, audio) that analyze primary source materials and provide context on the circumstances that surround them. 

Look for facts, keywords or citations that you can use to search for primary source materials and avoid the insights made by authors. 

Use secondary sources to find reproductions of primary sources (diaries, letters, photos, business documents) and finding the citation information. or your assignment.

AVOID using the secondary author's analysis or commentary on the topic you are examining.

Focus on facts, reproduced text or images of the primary source materials in these secondary sources. 

Examples (materials from your chosen time period): 

Personal Documents:

Letters, Diaries, Interviews, Speeches

Memoirs and Autobiographies (written with someone else)

• Use these resources to find primary source content (e.g. diaries, photos, letters, storyboards).

Audiovisual Materials

• Photographs, artwork, illustrations
• Motion Picture Films, News Footage
• Audio Recordings 

Production and Marketing Materials

• Scripts, Storyboards
• Press Kits, Film Posters
• Advertisements, Toys, Lobby Cards

Business Documents

• Contracts, Annual Reports, Invoices
• Memos, letters

Professional Association Documents

• MPAA Production Code Administration Files
• Audience Research Reports 

Government & Legal Documents

• Reports, Court Cases
• Documents in Archival Collections, e.g., J. Edgar Hoover and Radicalism in Hollywood (Media Commons in microfilm or online via Archives Unbound Collections)

Popular Publications from that time period

• Newspapers, Trade Magazines, and Fan or Popular Magazines (articles, original film reviews, photos, advertisements, etc.) 

Examples of Using Secondary Sources:

Newspapers, Trade Magazines, and Fan or Popular Magazines published later than time period that you are studying 

Books (including Biographies)

• If you must look at books that have primary source content (e.g. diaries, letters, storyboards), be sure that they are properly cited and unaltered. Contact the librarian to see if the content can be found a different way.
• Avoid connections or analysis made by the book's author. 
• Remember CITED your sources.  

Government & Legal Documents or Professional Association

• AVOID materials published later than time period that you are studying and provide a retrospective on a topic from the past.