Primary Sources

Primary sources are generally considered original material. That means records made at the time of a particular event. Vital records such as birth, marriage and death certificates are good examples. Others would include census records, city directories, school records, diaries and letters.

Primary sources, though not infallible by any means, are generally considered better evidence than secondary sources - published genealogies, internet trees and other after-the-fact documentation. The farther away from the event a document is, the less reliable it is usually considered to be.

This site was last updated on July 3, 2002.
Copyright 2002, 2003, 2004 Betsy Thal Gephart.

Primary Sources

This site was last updated on July 3, 2002. Copyright 2002, 2003, 2004 Betsy Thal Gephart.

This site was last updated on July 3, 2002.
Copyright 2002, 2003, 2004 Betsy Thal Gephart.