Continuing to Investigate Primary Sources

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Determining when the source was created is also an important part of the investigation. If you are searching for something from a specific time period, it is helpful to find sources from that specific time period. Does your source have a date? Are there other clues that might point to when it was created? It  is not always possible to find a primary source that answers your research question precisely and you may also need to consult sources created slightly before or after the time period you are researching to establish context. For example, studying primary sources created after the time period you are studying can also be helpful, as people may have produced information about their experiences during a previous time period; some examples could be memoirs or oral history interviews.

Discovering  why the source was created and by whom is also important. Can you identify the creator of the source? What was the purpose in creating this source? How might the creator's background, such as race, class, gender, or ethnicity, affect how the source was meant to be perceived? By doing this, you can discover what message the creator of the source was trying to establish. The answer may be obvious or more subtle.

There are many ways to investigate primary sources. Asking yourself the what, when, how, and why is a good way to begin your analysis.

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