Primary Source Learning: What Are Primary Sources?

Primary Source Learning: What Are Primary Sources?

This definition from the Library of Congress provides a basic answer to the question above. “’Primary sources’ are the raw materials of history — original documents and objects which were created at the time under study. They are different from secondary sources, accounts or interpretations of events created by someone without firsthand experience.” To learn…

Primary Source Spotlight: Harlem Hellfighters

Primary Source Spotlight: Harlem Hellfighters

The Harlem Hellfighters was a German nickname for the African-American 369th Infantry Regiment, which ended up lauded for its valor. The regiment was also famous for its musicians, led by Lieutenant James Reese Europe. Discover more with this collection of secondary and primary sources. Secondary sources Harlem Hell Fighters: African-American Troops in World War I Headlines and…

Using Sources: Creating a Digital Annotated Bibliography

Using Sources: Creating a Digital Annotated Bibliography

Cornell University Library describes an annotated bibliography as “a list of citations to books, articles, and documents. Each citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation.”Lisa Oppenheim from the Chicago Metro History Education Center notes that annotations for National History Day (NHD) and Chicago Metro History Fair should…

Selecting Sources: Tertiary, Secondary, Primary

Selecting Sources: Tertiary, Secondary, Primary

When conducting research, you will likely use three types of sources: primary, secondary, and tertiary. While exact definitions may vary by discipline or institution, we hope this post will help you sort out the main distinctions between these types of sources and when to use each in the research process for National History Day (NHD) and other…