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Re: What's a primary source?



Whether or not a document is a primary source depends on how and why the
researcher is using it. If the researcher is studying the author of the web
page, then it is a primary source. If the author is studying the subject of
the web page, then it's either a primary or a secondary source depending on
the author's direct knowledge or association with the subject.

Therefore, whether or not something is a primary or a secondary source
depends on how the source is being used, not on something inherent in the
document. Therefore, something can be both a primary and a secondary source,
depending on the subject and methodology of the particular researcher.
Sandburg's "Lincoln" is a secondary source for Lincoln, but a primary source
for Sandburg.

Lee

==--00--==

Leon C. Miller, Manuscripts Librarian
Special Collections, Jones Hall, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library
Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118
Ph: 504-865-5685, Fx: 504-865-5761
Leon.Miller@tulane.edu
http://specialcollections.tulane.edu


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-----Original Message-----
From: Archives & Archivists [mailto:ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU]On Behalf
Of blackri
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2001 8:57 PM
To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
Subject: Re: What's a primary source?

Marcus,

My background is in the field of history, but I recollect from theory and
methodology readings that a primary source essentially has one of two
criteria, i.e. it recounts a contemporary event or it is a reaction to a
contemporary event. In an ethnohistoric sense, this may include an essay, an
electronic document, a manuscript, a newspaper account, an oral recording,
drawing, (the list goes on and on ad nauseum). So, I suppose it would depend
upon what the 'ramblings' are about, i.e. events contemporary to that
person's
life or not. Then, of course, there is always the job of determining the
authenticity of the source and its validity within context.


Richard D. Blackmon
Auburn University
blackri@auburn.edu

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