Comparing Primary and Secondary Historical Sources

Khan Academy

This educational video uses the 1893 Chicago World's Fair as a case study to explain the critical difference between primary and secondary sources in historical analysis. The narrator breaks down definitions of each source type before presenting concrete examples: a first-hand letter written by a fair attendee in 1893 (primary) and a modern National Park Service article about the fair (secondary). Through this comparison, viewers learn how to distinguish between direct observation and retrospective analysis. The video explores key themes of historical perspective, bias, and the construction of historical narratives. It specifically highlights how primary sources capture immediate, subjective experiences (like the spectacle of the Egyptian exhibit), while secondary sources provide broader context and critical analysis that may be unavailable to contemporary witnesses (such as the structural sexism faced by women organizers). The video uses a Venn diagram to visually map out where these accounts overlap and diverge. For educators, this resource is an excellent tool for teaching historical thinking skills and source evaluation. It moves beyond simple definitions to demonstrate *how* historians use different sources to build a complete picture of the past. The video includes a built-in pause for student reflection and concludes with a powerful metaphor about history being a "conversation between the past and the present," helping students understand that history is an evolving interpretation rather than a static set of facts.