Using historical sources — History, 14–17 years
Learn how historians use letters, objects, images and records to build a careful account of the past, while checking who made each source and why.
What a source can tell us
A historical source is a surviving trace of the past: a law, diary, photograph, building, tool or newspaper. It gives evidence, but never the whole story. To use it well, ask what it shows, what it leaves out, and what the creator wanted people to believe.
Why historians test sources
People in the past had limited knowledge, strong loyalties and reasons to hide or exaggerate things. A ruler’s inscription may praise a victory while ignoring losses. Testing authorship, date, audience, purpose and detail helps historians separate useful evidence from a claim that needs checking.
Testing one source
Imagine a 1916 newspaper says, “Our army has won a glorious victory.” First, date it: it was printed during the war. Next, identify its audience and purpose: citizens, morale and support. Finally, compare it with soldiers’ letters and casualty records. The headline is evidence of official optimism, not proof that the battle was a clear victory.
The trap of “true or false”
A common mistake is to label a source simply true or false. That feels sensible because sources make definite statements, but usefulness depends on the question. A biased poster may be poor evidence about enemy strength yet excellent evidence of what its government wanted people to fear or support.
Sources beyond history class
The same habit helps with a viral video, a campaign poster or a claim about the past online. Check who made it, when, for whom and with what evidence, then compare it with independent information. This does not mean distrusting everything; it means matching confidence to the quality of the evidence.
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