WhAt Is HiStOrY? Secondary sources


Secondary sources are evidence from a later time than the event in question. For example, if someone was to write a book about a famous person, that would be a secondary source because they were not present at all the events. This textbook is a secondary source because the author was not present in the Stone Age or in World War II. These sources can be of interest but they are not as reliable as primary sources.


Examples of secondary sources:


● Biography: A book about a famous figure written by someone who has examined primary sources.


● History books: These contain accounts of historical events and people but they are written after the events took place.


● TV or radio documentaries: Programmes on television or radio that describe what happened in the past.


RECALL 1. How are historians like detectives? 2. Give three examples of a primary source. 3. Give three examples of a secondary source. 4. Examine the following list and state if each is a primary or a secondary source: (a) a newspaper from 1945 (b) a photograph of Hitler (c) this textbook (d) an interview with your teacher about schools today (e) an interview with your teacher aboutWorldWar I (f) a recent book about Jesus (g) an autobiography by former Irish President Mary McAleese.


Fig 1.3 Nelson Mandela’s autobiography is a primary source, whereas his biography is a secondary source.


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Problems with sources


A historian must examine his/her sources very carefully. A primary or secondary source can sometimes be biased and choose to present a person or an event in a certain way in order to make someone or something look better or worse than they really were. A historian needs to be determined to find the truth, look at each source and follow certain steps:


v Ask where was the source created, when was the source created, who created it and why was it created?


v Is it a primary source or a secondary source?


v How reliable is the source? Can the historian believe what is being written? For example, a book about the former American President


Fig 1.4 Spot the difference! The man at the back of the boat has been removed from the second photo – although if you look carefully his leg is still there.


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