Library research: Primary source search

An important part of historical research is the use of primary sources. Primary sources have some direct connection to the historical event in question (as opposed to secondary sources, which are written after the fact by historians or journalists). Using primary sources allows you to view the historical evidence for yourself and draw your own conclusions.

Examples of primary sources include: patents; lab notebooks; statements made by people directly involved in the event (such as interviews, letters, or speeches); eyewitness accounts of events; Congressional hearings; laws regulating the science or technology; court testimony; articles in scientific or medical journals written by people involved in the research (also look for letters to the editors of these journals--if an article receives criticism, the authors often write in to defend themselves in a later issue). You may think of other examples. The important thing is that the author of the source is someone directly involved in the event you are describing.

Each team member will locate one or more primary sources related to their project topic. I will be on hand to suggest possible primary sources, and the reference librarians can help you locate sources such as patent records within the library. Before you leave the library, show me which source you plan to use.

Each team member will read and prepare a one-page description of one primary source. This will consist of:

* A bibliographic listing of the source.

* One paragraph summarizing the information you found in this document.

* One paragraph that explains how this source contributes to your understanding of the project topic.

In class Wednesday, hand in the one-page write-up and a xerox of the source itself (I will return these to you).