Primary sources are documents that contain original information that has not been edited, translated, or restructured. They are also known as first-hand sources and are widely used in academic research.
Primary sources are not necessarily written documents, but can also be oral testimonies, recordings, a painting or a multimedia archive; This will depend on what the researcher needs for their work. In other words, these types of fonts can be located in different formats.
Books published in their original language may be primary sources; as well as scientific articles, theses and ancient manuscripts. Currently, a primary source can be located on the web, as is the case with digital journals or theses published in pdf format.
Differences between primary and secondary sources
Books that have been translated into other languages are considered secondary sources because their information has been edited and reorganized by someone else. The same applies to encyclopedias, biographies, directories and essays or articles interpreted by other works or works.
For example, a manuscript by Plato is considered the primary source, while an essay by a researcher analyzing Plato’s theories (from the researcher’s perspective) would be classified as a secondary source.
Another example of a primary source could be a papyrus from ancient Egypt, while a secondary source would be an Egyptian encyclopedia that mentions that papyrus.
In conclusion, primary sources are original documents that have not been modified in any way. For this reason, the purest primary sources are considered to be those that have not even been published (i.e., unpublished).
Characteristics of primary sources
– They are original
Primary sources are considered original because they have not been evaluated or interpreted by anyone other than their author. Likewise, they can be the product of a creative activity (like a poem or a play) or of an investigation (like a scientific article).
– They can be found in different formats
Primary sources can be found in any library, which implies that they were published in traditional print format (magazines or books), but they are also found in special formats such as compact discs, tape recorders or oral testimonies; even wall paintings (such as the Pompeii frescoes) can be considered primary sources.
– They are direct evidence of an investigation
Being original, these sources serve as direct documentation for researchers. This is because they have the author’s official perspective and are not subject to other people’s interpretations. For this reason, they are often more sought after than secondary sources; however, both are necessary for the development of any work.
In other words, primary sources offer direct information, while secondary sources are made up of indirect information.
– They are very valuable for all disciplines
Primary sources are necessary to carry out any kind of research; They are used in disciplines such as anthropology, history, biology, philosophy, linguistics, in literary studies, in the arts, and in almost every other form of study.
Likewise, they have a strong historical and cultural value. This happens because these documents are a way of knowing the past and the present of the human being; In addition, they allow us to analyze the different customs and thoughts that humanity has had throughout its existence.
For example: from a manuscript of philosophers such as Aristotle or Plato, it is possible to know how society was formed during Ancient Greece; we can get closer to their way of thinking and conceiving the world.
The only downside to primary sources is that they are generally not accessible when dealing with very old historical manuscripts as they are kept in very special places such as libraries or museums.
Examples of primary sources
Below are some examples of primary sources categorized according to their format:
The letters
The letter is a means of communication that requires a sender and a recipient. They are considered a primary source, as it allows us to know the lives and thoughts of the great characters in history.
For example: the letters of Simón Bolívar, which are very useful for historians. Through his correspondence, it was possible to know certain attitudes of the Liberator, both politically and personally.
The books
Books have always been a valuable source of information, as they allow us to know aspects of a certain period.
The list of important books is endless, but the novel Don Quixote de la Mancha (written by Miguel de Cervantes) can be taken as an example, which shows how the ideals of Spanish society were changing; This work represents the transition from medieval thought (symbolized by chivalrous novels) to modernity.
To be considered a primary source, the researcher must read the works in their original language; otherwise, they become secondary sources.
Memories or autobiographies
Memories are more or less reliable stories that describe the events that the author of the book went through. They are considered primary sources, because it is the author who writes about his or her own life, in contrast to a biography, where it is a third party who relates the events.
An example of a famous memoir might be Memories of Africa , written by Karen Blixen. In this text, the author recounts her experiences during the seventeen years she lived in Kenya.
The pictures
Photography is one of the most used sources by people, not only in the academic field, but also in the personal aspect. In a photo, you can have a direct image of what a certain person looked like (eg grandparents or great-grandparents). In the same way, they allow us to know the clothes and places of a certain time.
paintings
When photography did not exist, people recorded their daily lives through painting. This is why portraits and wall paintings (such as frescoes from Egypt) are considered primary sources of information.
An example of a painting that is a primary source could be the portraits made by painter Diego Velázquez of Infanta Margarita; Likewise, an example of photography could be a portrait of Martin Luther King. However, to be considered primary, it is necessary to view the original photo or painting directly in the museum.
