There are basically two types of sources used in research. A primary source is a document or other sort of evidence written or created during the time under study or data resulting from original research. Original research found in scholarly journals U.S. Census Reports Congressional Committee Hearings Oregon legislative bills Diary of Anne Frank University Archives 2. A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources.
Secondary sources are one step removed from the event.
Most materials in our library are secondary sources. This page was modified September 27, 2000.