Identifying Primary and Secondary Sources

(Adapted from Cincinnati: An Urban History Sourcebook Teacher’s Guide,

Cincinnati Historical Society 1988)

In the blanks below, identify each of the following examples as either a primary source (P) or a secondary source (S).

______1. a tape recording of a speech given by the mayor

______2. a newspaper story about the mayor's speech written by a reporter who heard about the speech from someone else

______3. your mother's first grade report card

______4. your first grade report card

______5. a copy of the Declaration of Independence in your school textbook

______6. a magazine story about the Declaration of Independence

______7. a new book about the life of President Lincoln

______8. a photograph from a Chicago Bulls basketball game

______9. a newspaper story about the Chicago Bulls basketball game

______10. a picture of the first settlers in Urbana

List another example of a primary source.

List another example of a secondary source.