Primary sources can be difficult to identify partly because, often, what counts a primary source can vary depending on the context. A primary source for one researcher can in fact count as a secondary source for a different researcher because of a difference in the focus of their research. For this reason, it's important to understand the criteria for identifying a primary source relevant to your research.
The main distinction between primary sources and secondary sources is usually one of purpose - many primary sources, especially in history, were not created to be analytical or scholarly. Instead, they reflect or capture something about the time in which they were created. Secondary sources, in contrast, focus on analysis, interpretation and explanation of their subject matter.
For a more detailed explanation of the differences between primary and secondary sources, use these resources:
Finding primary sources can be more complicated than finding secondary sources, because often the creators of primary sources are not writing or creating with academic research in mind. This will require you to be creative in how you search.
Some questions to ask:
Primary sources come in a large variety of formats and this is going to impact no only where you look, but how and whether you can access it. Some primary sources may be digitized, but many will be part of special collections that may have restricted access. Knowing what kind of sources might work best for you will give you clues as to where you may be able to access it - either through specific digital collections or planning a visit to a special collection.
Types of sources include:
Thinking about the people who create the primary sources you'll likely be using can also help you find the materials you'll need. This is the "who cares" research strategy: thinking about who would be writing, speaking, organizing, and creating the materials you're interested in will give you ideas about where these sources might be found, or search terms to use to locate them in databases.
The type of source you'll be using will also give you hints as to who would produce it and vice versa. For example, government records are created by government officials and public servants and are usually housed within either government websites, libraries, or archives.
Examples:
It is important to be clear on the time and place that you are interested, because it is going to help you determine which sources will be applicable to your topic, and which may be out of scope.
This course has a very clear geographical and time period focus: the United States from 1945 to the present. But even within that scope, there is still ample opportunity to narrow even further. Are you interested in the late twentieth century or the early twenty first century? Is there a particular area of the US you'd like to focus on?
Answering these questions is important because it will inform which databases and collections you target as they will each have their own scope.
Lastly, primary sources do not always fit into neat boxes that correspond to scholarly disciplines. Sometimes the sources that may be most relevant to you won't be found in a database or collection labelled as historical. Don't be afraid to think beyond the confines of discipline to find primary sources.
Examples of areas relevant to this class could include: