York University Libraries FAQ

Primary sources are:

• first-hand accounts of a historical event or a person's life or work
• original documents, records, data created at the time of a particular historical event
• documents created at a later time by a participant or eyewitness to an historical event (e.g. autobiographies or memoirs)
• raw data

Letters, autobiographies, posters, diaries, archival materials, and photographs are examples of primary sources. Primary sources can be in their original format or reproduced in a different format (e.g. book, microfilm or on the Internet).

Visit our:

• Primary Resources Guide for suggested starting points to find primary sources available from York University Libraries
• Archival Research Tutorial to learn how to conduct research at the Clara Thomas Archives & Special Collections at York University Libraries.
• Subject research guides or connect with a subject librarian for subject-specific primary source suggestions

Secondary sources:

• comprise works written later about a subject
• are usually written by non-participants or eye-witnesses to the historical event
• interpret, analyze, and debate primary sources

Please visit the research guide for your subject area to find secondary sources.