Immigration and Ethnicity in American History

Primary Sources

are documents or physical objects which were written or created during a time under study.  These sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event.  Primary sources are records of events as they are first described, without any interpretation or commentary.   Examples of primary sources include:

ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS – diaries, speeches, manuscripts, letters, interviews, news film footage, autobiographies

CREATIVE WORKS – art, poetry, music, novels

RELICS OR ARTIFACTS – pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings

Secondary Sources

interpret and analyze primary sources.  They are one or two more steps removed from the event.  They often attempt to describe or explain primary sources.  Examples of secondary sources include:

PUBLICATIONS – textbooks, magazine articles, criticisms, commentaries, encyclopedias, dictionaries

To find primary sources in the library catalog, search by the words "diaries, memoirs, personal narratives, oral histories, letters, interviews, correspondence, and/or autobiographies" and narrow geographically and by time period.

Adapted from Princeton University’s Primary vs. Secondary Sources website

Library of Congress: Digital Collections According to the website, "Provides free and open access through the Internet to written and spoken words, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience. It is a digital record of American history and creativity."  There's an entire section devoted to Immigration.

Calisphere is a collection of digital resources from California libraries, designed primarily for educators, but for anyone is a wonderful source for primary materials.  Select "Immigration" from A-Z menu on the right.  Notice the texts in addition to the images.

National Archives in Washington D.C.  Find digital records of federal government department, conduct genealogical research, find primary sources, including photos.