Historical Sources Overview
People living in the past left many clues which we can use to investigate aspects of their lives. These items can include books, personal papers, government documents, letters, oral accounts, diaries, maps, photographs, reports, artefacts, coins, stamps and many other things including novels and short stories.
Historians call all of these clues the historical record.
They are all sources of information which can be used to find out about the past.
Primary sources are actual records that have survived from the past, such as letters and ducuments, photographs and objects.
A history textbook is a secondary source. It was written by someone long after historical events took place.
The primary and secondary sources in this teaching and learning package include items that are available from Lincolnshire County Council’s museum, archive and library collections.
- Newpaper reports
- Posters
- Photographs
- Memories and stories by people who remembered life duiring WWII
- Original and reproduction artefacts
- Fiction
- Biographies
