Assignment | Texas HIST 2301 Primary Sources (Strohmeier): Primary Sources

A primary source comes directly from the concept or people in question. Primary sources give us direct glimpses into how people thought and felt at the time. A few possibilities include:

• Diaries, letters, manuscripts, autobiographies 
• Speeches
• Photographs, drawings, and other creative works
• Sound recordings
• News footage and newspaper articles from the period
• Artifacts like clothing and furniture
• Original research reports and lab notes
• Laws, statutes, and court opinions

Why Primary Sources?

Primary sources build key learning skills

• Develop critical thinking skills
• Provide greater understanding of topics being studied
• Allow you to come to your own conclusions
• Develop grounding in history to better question what has been or is being said about a topic/event