Primary Source Analysis | Open Textbooks

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What Is a Primary Source?

A primary source is something made by people who were there when something happened. It could be:

An old photograph
A letter someone wrote long ago
A drawing from the past
A real flag or object from history

Why Do We Look at Primary Sources?

Primary sources help us learn what really happened. When we look at an old picture of the American flag, we can see:

What the flag looked like back then
How people treated the flag
Where people put the flag

How to Look at a Primary Source

When you look at an old picture or document, ask yourself these questions:

What do I see? Look carefully at everything in the picture.
Who made this? Think about the person who took the photo or drew the picture.
When was it made? Is it from long ago or more recent?
What does it tell me? What can I learn from this source?

Primary Sources About American Symbols

Here are some primary sources we can study:

Old flag photos: Pictures of flags from when America had fewer states (fewer stars!)
Pictures of the Statue of Liberty being built: Photos from 1886 when it arrived
Old postcards: Cards people sent showing the Liberty Bell
Historical documents: Papers where people wrote about what symbols meant to them

Examples

Example 1: Looking at an Old Flag

Imagine you see a picture of an American flag with only 13 stars.

What do I see? A flag with 13 stars in a circle and 13 stripes.

When was it made? This must be from long ago when America had only 13 states.

What does it tell me? The flag changed as America grew. Each star stands for a state!

Example 2: A Photo of Children Saying the Pledge

Imagine you see an old black-and-white photo of children in a classroom with their hands on their hearts.

What do I see? Children standing by their desks, looking at a flag.

Who made this? A photographer at a school long ago.

What does it tell me? Children have been saying the Pledge of Allegiance in schools for a very long time!

Example 3: A Postcard of the Statue of Liberty

Imagine you see an old postcard from 1920 showing the Statue of Liberty.

What do I see? The Statue of Liberty standing tall on an island.

When was it made? Over 100 years ago!

What does it tell me? People thought the statue was important enough to put on a postcard. It was a famous symbol even then.

Practice

Answer these questions about primary sources.

1. What is a primary source?

A) A book written today about history
B) Something made by people who were there
C) A made-up story
D) A movie about the past

2. Which of these is a primary source about the American flag?

A) A new cartoon about flags
B) An old photograph of soldiers with a flag in 1865
C) A story someone wrote today about flags
D) A flag coloring page

3. When looking at an old picture, which question should you ask FIRST?

A) Is this picture funny?
B) What do I see in this picture?
C) What color is the frame?
D) How big is the picture?

4. An old flag has 48 stars. What does this tell you?

A) The flag is broken
B) Someone made a mistake
C) The flag is from when America had 48 states
D) Stars used to be smaller

5. Why do we study primary sources?

A) They are always colorful
B) They help us learn what really happened
C) They are easy to find
D) They cost a lot of money

6. Which is NOT a good question to ask about a primary source?

A) What do I see?
B) When was it made?
C) What is my favorite color?
D) What does it tell me?

7. A letter written by a girl in 1910 about seeing the Statue of Liberty is:

A) Not important
B) A primary source
C) Make-believe
D) A secondary source

8. An old photograph is black and white. This tells you:

A) The photographer was colorblind
B) It might be from a long time ago
C) It is not a real photo
D) The camera was broken

9. You see an old picture of the Liberty Bell with a crack in it. What can you learn?

A) Someone dropped the bell that day
B) The crack has been there for a long time
C) The picture is fake
D) The bell was not important

10. Which would tell you the MOST about how children felt about the flag long ago?

A) A new flag from a store
B) A poem written by a child in 1920 about the flag
C) A flag coloring book
D) A flag made of plastic

Check Your Understanding

Think about these questions to make sure you understand primary sources.

Can you explain what a primary source is in your own words?
Can you name the four questions we ask when looking at a primary source?
Why is an old photograph more helpful than a new drawing when learning about the past?
If you found an old letter about the American flag, what would you want to know about it?

Next Steps

Look for old photographs of American symbols at home or in the library
Practice asking the four questions when you see old pictures
Move on to the next lesson: Maps and Data