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American Studies

What are primary sources?

A primary source is an original object or document - the raw material or first-hand information, source material  that is closest to what is being studied. 

Primary sources vary by discipline and can include:

  • Historical and legal documents such as personal papers, government documents, legal codes, treaties
  • Eye witness accounts: newspapers or transcripts of radio or TV news from the time the event took place
  • Social media posts
  • Results of an experiment (Lab reports)
  • Statistical data
  • Maps
  • Creative writing: novels, stories, poetry, plays
  • Religious texts
  • Art objects: drawings, photos, paintings, sculptures, medical illustrations
  • Architecture: blueprints as well as the finished structures
  • Film, TV, video
  • Many sources can be treated as a primary text, i.e. a webpage produced by a political group.

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