Primary Source Analysis
Learn
A primary source is something made by people who were there when an event happened. Old photographs, letters, diaries, maps, and objects are all primary sources. They help us learn about how communities lived long ago.
What Are Primary Sources?
Primary sources are like clues from the past. When we look at an old photograph of a town, we can see:
- What buildings looked like
- How people dressed
- What tools and vehicles people used
- How the community was organized
How to Look at a Primary Source
When you look at a primary source, ask yourself these questions:
- What do I see? List everything you notice.
- When was this made? Look for clues about the time period.
- Who made this? Think about who created it and why.
- What does this tell me? What can you learn about the community?
Comparing Then and Now
Primary sources help us see how communities have changed over time. A photograph from 100 years ago might show:
- Horses and buggies instead of cars
- Dirt roads instead of paved streets
- Small shops instead of big stores
- Different styles of clothing
Examples
Example 1: Looking at an Old Photograph
Imagine a photograph from 1920 showing a main street in a small town.
What do I see? I see a dirt road, wooden buildings, people in long dresses and hats, and a horse pulling a cart.
When was this made? The year 1920 is written on the photo. The clothes and horse cart also show it is from long ago.
What does this tell me? This community did not have paved roads or many cars yet. People dressed differently than we do today.
Example 2: Studying an Old Letter
Imagine a letter written by a child in 1950 about their school day.
The letter says: "Dear Grandma, Today we walked two miles to school. We practiced our penmanship and did arithmetic on the chalkboard."
What does this tell me? Children walked to school instead of riding buses. They used chalkboards instead of computers. Schools focused on handwriting and math.
Example 3: Examining an Old Object
Imagine looking at an old oil lamp from 1880.
What do I see? A glass container with a wick inside and a metal base.
What does this tell me? Before electricity, communities used oil lamps for light. People had to fill the lamp with oil and light it each evening.
Practice
Answer these questions to practice analyzing primary sources.
1. What is a primary source?
Think about who made it and when.
2. Name three types of primary sources.
Think about things people made long ago.
3. You are looking at an old photograph of a farm from 1900. List three things you might see in the picture.
Think about what farms looked like before modern machines.
4. Why do we ask "Who made this?" when looking at a primary source?
Different people might show different things.
5. An old diary entry says: "Today Mother used the new icebox to keep our milk cold." What does this tell us about communities long ago?
Think about how we keep food cold today.
6. How can old photographs help us learn about communities?
What can we see in photographs?
7. A primary source shows children playing with wooden toys and marbles. What does this tell us about their community?
Compare to toys children play with today.
8. You find an old letter from 1930 where someone writes about listening to the radio with their family. Why is this a primary source?
Who wrote it and when?
9. An old map shows a river running through a town. Many buildings are near the river. Why might the community have built near the water?
Think about what people need water for.
10. Compare these two sources: a photograph of a classroom from 1950 and your classroom today. List two differences you might find.
Think about desks, boards, and technology.
Check Your Understanding
Answer these questions to see what you have learned.
Question 1: Which of these is a primary source about life in 1900?
Question 2: What is the FIRST question you should ask when looking at a primary source?
Question 3: An old photograph shows people using candles for light. What does this tell us about their community?
Next Steps
- Look for old photographs of your own community at a library or museum
- Ask a family member to share an old object or photograph with you
- Practice asking the four questions about any primary source you find
- Continue to the next lesson: Maps and Data