Historical sources

• What are primary and secondary sources? 

Primary sources

• Why use primary sources?
• Where can I find primary sources?
• Collections of primary sources
• Evaluating primary sources

Secondary sources

• Why use secondary sources?
• What are secondary sources?
• Evaluating secondary sources

With the growth of text analysis, there are some great thematic collections that have been built. 

These allow you to explore primary sources within a topic focus area or to find secondary sources based on the text within a primary source.

Click here for more details.  

It is important to locate, read and refer to secondary sources in your writing.

Secondary sources:

• provide vital background information. Having as much knowledge as possible about the text or event about which you are researching is crucial. Familiarising yourself with what has been written about your topic will allow you to write more knowledgeably,
• inform you as to what others have said so you can avoid repeating ideas that are already out there,
• can be used to support your ideas or to show an alternative view. You can create an argument that shows all points of view.

Secondary sources describe, analyse, interpret or draw conclusions from a primary source. Secondary sources are created after the studied event/work took place or the studied work was created. They can therefore take into consideration other events and place a primary source in its historical context. Secondary sources are not evidence but rather commentary on and discussion of evidence.

Scholars generally use the term secondary source to refer to books, sections of edited books, journal articles, encylopedia and dictionary entries, newspaper and magazine reports and so on. This chart shows the distinction between primary and secondary sources:

Note that science disciplines may define secondary sources differently. This guide addresses the Social Sciences and Humanities definition.

 Evaluation of sources is essential to scholarly research. Consider the following when looking for reliable secondary sources.

For more information on evaluating sources in general and internet sources in particular, look at:

• Evaluating Information and Fake News 
• Evaluating Webpages: Techniques to apply and questions to ask from Berkeley University.