Primary sources are some sort of information produced at the time of the event you are studying, or gathered at a later date from someone who was there at the time.
They can be of many diverse types, including newspapers, film, interviews, artwork, diaries, speeches, photographs, plays, and many more!
In contrast, a secondary source is one that usually interprets or or discusses these primary sources.
How to Cite Online Primary Sources
The guide above covers most kinds of primary sources you'll be using. If you need to cite a source that doesn't exactly fit with one of these types, please ask any of the librarians or at the Writing and Tutoring Center. We're here to help!
Many institutions have collected a variety of primary sources devoted to a single topic in one location. These are just a few examples. Museums, libraries, and Foundations often are good sources for this type of information, as you can see from the sponsors of these websites below.