Primary and Secondary Sources

Challenge:

Find primary and secondary sources on a topic.

Solution:

The definitions of primary and secondary sources vary somewhat, depending on the subject area.

In English, History, Social Sciences, Literature and most other liberal arts, primary sources are works that were created during the time period about which they are written or by eye-witnesses of an event.

In Science and Mathematics journal articles that discuss new discoveries, as opposed to summarizing previously written material, are considered primary sources, along with all the materials included in the liberal arts primary source list.

Examples of Primary Sources by Discipline
Discipline/Subject	Primary Sources
English, History, Literature, Social Sciences, Psychology, Liberal Arts	autobigraphies, diaries, legal and government documents, radio and television broadcasts, manuscripts, photographs, ship's logs, letters, meeting minutes, newspaper and magazine articles of the time
Science, Mathematics	research notes, journal articles on new advances

In contrast, secondary sources are works that interpret or analyze the content of the primary sources. Most reference books, text books, and scholarly publications are secondary resources.

The key to determining whether a source is primary or secondary is the amount of time between the events recorded in the document and the time the document was created. Primary sources are generally created at the same time or shortly after an event occurs; secondary sources are created later.

Resources:

Clements and Bentley Libraries
UM's historical libraries have many primary source materials on file. The Bentley collection is focused on the history of Michigan, UM, and the surrounding area. The Clements collection includes primary source material from American history, covering the fifteenth through the early twentieth centuries.
Documents Center
The Documents Center, on the 2nd floor of the Hatcher Graduate Library, is an official repository for all U.S. Government documents. It has a large foreign collection also.
Mirlyn
The University of Michigan's online catalog also offers access to other library catalogs.
SearchTools
The link to UM's collection of subscription databases, several of which have primary source material and all of which contain secondary source material.
Proquest Historical Newspapers
You can search the Christian Science Monitor, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal from mid-1800's to 2001.

Readers Guide to Periodicals
Index shelfs of the Shapiro Undergraduate Library, first floor. Annual guide, arranged by subject, to articles published in magazines and newspapers.

UC Berkeley Primary Sources Guide
Addition information on identifying and using primary and secondary sources.

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