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Library Digital Collections SANDBOX

Primary v. Digitized Primary v. Secondary

What is a digitized primary source?

A digitized primary source is an online representation of a primary source. It may be an image of the item or represented with an online record or finding aid. 

A primary source (also called an original source) provides direct or firsthand evidence (a record) about an event, object, person, or work of art. A primary source is often written or created at the time under study. A primary source serves as an original source of information about a topic.

Different academic disciplines have different definitions of a primary source depending upon the discipline and the context in which the source is used. [1] An example of this would be in the natural and social sciences, primary sources are often empirical studies - research where an experiment was performed or direct observation was made. In journalism, a primary source can be a person with direct knowledge of a situation, or a document written by such a person. In the physical sciences, the results of empirical studies are typically found in scholarly articles or papers delivered at conferences and considered primary sources.Primary sources include: artifacts, articles, art objects, audio and video recordings, diaries, documents, eyewitness accounts, historical and legal documents, internet communications via email, blogs, listservs, and newsgroups..., interviews, fieldwork, manuscripts, objects, pieces of creative writing, results of experiments, speeches, statistical data, surveys

A secondary source is second-hand information written or created after an event, generally with the benefit of hindsight. 

 

Examples

Citations follow the Chicago Citation Guide (17 edition)

Primary Source: Digitized Primary Source: Secondary Source:

An original painting by Bonnie Cashin

 

 

Citation:

Cashin, Bonnie. Cashin’s Illustrations of Body Covering Made of Light. F002-07, 1966, Gouache, University of California, Los Angeles. Library Special Collections. Accessed August 22, 2024 

 

Style (Chicago 17th ed.):

Artwork is a general term used to describe visual art that is in a physical form. This includes paintings, sculptures, architecture, mosaics, ceramics, and more.

When citing artwork, citations must include the following information:

  • name of the artist
  • title of the artwork
  • year it was created (preceeded by "ca." [circa] if this date is approximate)
  • where it is located.

If you have other relevant information about the artwork such as size or medium, include that as well. 

 

 

ORIGINAL PAINTING

You can see this in UCLA Library Special Collections.

 

A digitized representation of the Bonnie Cashin's painting

 

 

 

Citation:

Cashin, Bonnie. Cashin's Illustrations of Body Covering Made of Light. F02-07, 1966. Gouache, UCLA Library Digital Collections." Accessed August 19, 2024. https://digital.library.ucla.edu/catalog/ark:/21198/zz0002h1ts.

 

 

 

Style (Chicago 17th ed.):

Image of artwork from an online Source

Creator's Last Name, First Name. Title of Artwork, Date of Creation, Other relevant information such as size or medium [if known], Location of Artwork. Accessed Access Date. URL.

 

DIGITIZED REPRESENTATION OF ORIGINAL PAINTING

Cashin's illustrations of body coverings made of light. f02-07

Cashin's illustrations of body covering made of light. f02-07

 

A book about the fashion designer Bonnie Cashin

 

 

Citation:

Lake, Stephanie. 2016. Bonnie Cashin : Chic Is Where You Find It  / Stephanie Lake ; Foreword by Jonathan Adler. New York, NY: Rizzoli International Publications,Inc.

Style (Chicago 17 ed.):

 Author's First Name Last Name, Title of Book: Subtitle if Any (Place of publication: Publisher, Year), Page Number.

 

BOOK

BOOK Bonnie Cashin : chic is where you find it

 

 

[1] Cite Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_source

Cite Library of Congress https://ask.loc.gov/faq/303148#:~:text=A%20primary%20source%20is%20a,%2C%20manuscript%2C%20or%20art%20object.

 

Chicago Citation Guide (17th Edition): Primary Sources

https://columbiacollege-ca.libguides.com/chicago/primary_sources