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Research at the Polly Rosenbaum State Archives and History Building

This guide includes information about scheduling an appointment to view materials from the Arizona State Archives and the State of Arizona Research Library in the Reading Room of the Polly Rosenbaum State Archives and History building.

Primary and Secondary Sources

Source Type

When doing research, it is important to be aware of what type of source you may need to help answer your research question. Some sources contain facts and figures while others may contain firsthand accounts of significant events. There are three main types of research sources: primary, secondary, and tertiary sources. Having an understanding of the different types of sources will assist you in asking for the resources you need to answer your research question. 

Primary Sources

Definition

  • A first-person account by a person who experienced or witnessed an event and is often created at the time of the event. 

Examples

  • Historical and Legal Documents
  • Interviews
  • Speeches
  • Diaries
  • Newspaper Articles
  • Original Artwork
  • Letters
  • Original Scientific Studies

Secondary Sources

Definition

  • Source that is one step removed from the primary source, often a summary, reexamination, interpretation, or analysis of a primary document.

Examples

  • Biographies
  • Journal Articles
  • Commentaries
  • Editorials
  • Book Reviews
  • Reports Using Multiple Studies
  • Dissertations

Tertiary Sources

Definition

  • Fully removed from the primary source and it points to a secondary source rather than a primary source.

Examples

  • Bibliography
  • Index
  • Catalog
  • Encyclopedia
  • Abstracts