A good way to think about primary sources is to think of them as having their own life histories. They have to have survived from the time when they were created until now. For us to be able to find and use them, they also often have to go through several other steps. This is the primary source lifecycle.
The source has to be created in a tangible form, either physical or digital.
An institution or individual has to decide to collect the source. Technology has to exist to collect the source.
The institution or individual has to decide to preserve the source. Technology has to exist to preserve the source.
The source needs to be recorded in some way so that it is findable. This also usually entails the creation of some sort of system for finding, like a list, database, or catalog. An item that has no record of its existence isn't findable.
An institution or individual has to decide to digitize and host the source. There are costs to digitizing the material, creating a system for hosting and making the source findable, and for ongoing server/hosting costs.
All images via Flickr Commons.
The primary source lifecycle can be interrupted, complicated, or ended at any time.
Even if the primary source has successfully made it through this lifecycle, it might not be accessible to you.
If the lifecycle has been broken or one of these other barriers is present
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