Primary vs. Secondary Sources  Tags: primary_sources secondary_sources  

The term can vary slightly depending upon subject but generally a primary source is an original source of information. It is the first-hand material on which future interpretations, reviews, studies and commentaries are based. 

The following are common formats of primary sources:

Art

Artifacts

Diaries & Memoirs 

Doctoral Dissertations

Government Documents

Interviews

Letters

Literature 

Movies

Maps

Music

Opinion Polls

Oral Histories

Photographs

Speeches

Scientific Studies

Statistics

Treaties, Laws & Court Rulings