~ Iowa State University Library ~
S p e c i a l  C o l l e c t i o n s  D e p a r t m e n t

Primary sources are records created by people who directly experienced the topic under discussion. The types of records can vary widely, but all are first-hand accounts of the event.

Secondary sources are generated by people without personal knowledge; authors often use primary sources to create secondary sources. 

Types of records often considered primary sources:

• Artifacts

• Contemporary news articles

• Correspondence

• Diaries

• Film/video of event

• Government documents

• Interviews

• Meeting minutes

• Memos

• Personal narratives

• Photographs

• Research data

Continue on to: Beginning your research