3. Secondary Sources for Historians

Secondary works are analyses and interpretations based on primary sources and other sources, which can include other secondary works such as books and journal articles, and tertiary sources, such as encyclopedia articles. A secondary source usually reflects the authority and perspective of a professional historian who did not experience what they are describing but who is trained to analyze primary sources and contextualize them within a bigger picture.”[1]


  1. Jenny L. Presnell, The Information-literate Historian: A Guide to Research for History Students, 3rd ed. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2019), 109.

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Choosing & Using Sources: A Guide to Academic Research Copyright © 2015 by Teaching & Learning, Ohio State University Libraries is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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