Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Primary sources

There are as many possible definitions of "primary source" (and its counterpart, "secondary source") as there are researchers, and the research process map I referred to in my previous posting doesn't even use the term. Mark Tucker's research map instead refers to "primary information" and "secondary information", given that the same source may be primary for some information and secondary for other information.

For instance, a newspaper story may contain an eyewitness account of an event (primary information), combined with some historical research into the individuals involved in the event (secondary information).

To be frank, I find that sources containing primary information tend to be more interesting, because I get to be the person who makes the analysis of the information without it being filtered through some number of other individuals. Who hasn't been fascinated with a diary or letter that describes a time in history?

Depending upon the assignment, students can be encouraged to seek out primary information sources. Not only does do the USF Libraries provide access to relatively recent news sources (our databases include Access World News and LexisNexis Academic), but we have historical newspapers as well (such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Times of London). News magazines in print or microform (including Time and Newsweek) go back many decades, and can be found on the USF Tampa Library's 2nd floor in the Periodicals area. Several local Florida newspapers are also available in microfilm going back to some very early issues.

If your assignment has an historical component, consider making your students aware of these great historical resources.