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Re: What's a Primary Source?



">what type of resource is an essay on a personal webpage, that does not
>cite any references, and appears to be
>the author's own ramblings on a personal subject. Primary?  Secondary?
>Tertiary?"

A bad, unreliable, unworthy source that shouldn't be cited anywhere, especially in a bibliography or other publication by a reputable librarian....

As to the primary source, etc. ....  The definition of "primary source" has nothing to do with whether or not it's been published, although many primary sources are unpublished.  A modern autobiography or an ancient textbook used as source material for a current analysis of prejudice in earlier education would both qualify as primary sources.

Since the web page in question seems to ramble on, and has no formal citation associated with it, I would tend to regard it as the personal ramblings of the sender and therefore as a primary source ... which might be used as a primary source to analyze the quality of material on the web.

Sally 




********************************************************

 Sally Gibson
     Archivist

     City of Toronto Archives
     255 Spadina Road
     Toronto, Ontario
     Canada  M5R 2V3
     
    tel.:      (416) 392-5561
    fax:      (416) 392-9685 
    email:  sgibson0@city.toronto.on.ca

>>> Marcus Robyns <mrobyns@NMU.EDU> 08/30/01 08:51am >>>
Greetings:

The librarians at NMU are once again flailing about aimlessly, and, as
usual, have come to the archivist to pull their heads out of their
collective behinds.  Why must we suffer such children?

Anyway, here's a question from one of their number concerning the
definition of a primary source:

"what type of resource is an essay on a personal webpage, that does not
cite any references, and appears to be
the author's own ramblings on a personal subject. Primary?  Secondary?
Tertiary?"

My sense is that this type of source should be considered secondary, since
it is published and has an intended public audience.  Also, I understand
the source makes bibliographic references to other related
material.  However, I thought I'd ask the List for others' opinions.  I
apologize if this topic has come up before.

Thanks,
Marcus



_________________________________
Marcus C. Robyns, CA            To be and not do is not to be at all
Assistant Professor / University Archivist
Northern Michigan University                    mrobyns@nmu.edu 
1401 Presque Isle                                       (906) 227-1225
Marquette, MI 49855                             (906) 227-1333 (fax)

First they ignore you.
Then they laugh at you.
Then they fight you.
Then you win.---Gandhi

Visit the Central Upper Peninsula and Northern Michigan University Archives at:
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