HISTORICAL METHOD

Learning Outcomes:
 Evaluate primary sources for their credibility,
authenticity and provenance.
 Examine example of a primary source and its
corresponding secondary source derived
from them.
History as Reconstruction
 the historian is many times removed from the
events under investigation
 Ang historyador ay walang dudang
napakalayo na mula sa kaganapang
kanyang isinasalaysay

 historians rely on surviving records

 Umaasa ang historyador sa mga
naiwang tala

Louis Gottschalk, Understanding History

History as Reconstruction
 “Only a part of what was observed in the past
was remembered by those who observed it;
only a part of what was remembered was
recorded; only a part of what was recorded
has survived; only a part of what has survived
has come to the historian’s attention.”

Louis Gottschalk, Understanding History

History as Reconstruction
 “Only a part of what is credible has been
grasped, and only a part of what has been
grasped can be expounded or narrated by the
historian.”

Louis Gottschalk, Understanding History

What is the Historical Method?
 Historians have to verify sources, to date
them, locate their place of origin and identify
their intended functions.

 Kailangan matiyak ng historyador

ang sumusunod na impormasyon
hinggil sa kanyang mga nakalap na
batis – petsa kung kailan ito isinulat
o nilikha, pinagmulan nito at ang
orihinal na intensyon kung bakit ito
naisulat o nilikha.
Louis Gottschalk, Understanding History
In short, the Historical Method is…
 The process of critically examining and
analyzing the records and survivals of the
past
 Ang masalimuot na proseso ng
kritikal na pagsusuri at pagtatasa
ng mga tala at iba pang mga gamit
at/o materyales na nagmula sa
nakaraang panahon.

Louis Gottschalk, Understanding History

Historical Sources
 Sources – an object from the past or
testimony concerning the past on which
historians depend in order to createtheir own
depiction of that past.

Howell and Prevenier, From Reliable Sources an

Introduction to Historical Method
Historical Sources
 Sources – an object from the past or
testimony concerning the past on which
historians depend in order to createtheir own
depiction of that past.
 Batis – isang gamit mula sa nakaraan
o testimonya na may kinalaman sa
nakalipas kung saan ibinabatay ng
historyador ang kanyang sariling
pagtatampok ng nakaraan

Howell and Prevenier, From Reliable Sources an

Introduction to Historical Method
Historical Sources
 Tangible remains of the past
 Mga nakikita o nahahawakang labi mula
sa nakaraan

Anthony Brundage, Going to Sources

Written Sources
1. Published materials Books, magazines,
journals,
Travelogue
transcription of speech

2. Manuscript [any handwritten or typed record

that has not been printed]
Archival materials
Memoirs, diary
Non- Written Sources
1. Oral history
2. Artifact
3. Ruins
4. Fossils
5. Art works
6. Videorecordings
7. Audiorecordings
Primary Sources
What are primary sources?
 document or physical object
 written or created during the
time under study.
 present during an
experience or time period
 offer an inside view of a
particular event
What are primary sources?
 Primary sources are characterized by their
content, regardless of whether they are
available in original format, in
microfilm/microfiche, in digital format, or in
published format.
Examples:
Original Documents (excerpts or translations
acceptable): diaries, speeches, manuscripts,
letters, interviews, news film footage,
autobiographies, official records
Creative Works: poetry, drama, novels,
music, art
Relics or Artifacts: pottery, furniture,
clothing, buildings
What are primary sources?
Keep in mind that a primary
source reflects only one point
of view and may contain a
person’s bias (prejudice)
toward an event.
Four Main Categories of Primary
Sources
1. Written sources
2. Images
3. Artifacts
4. Oral testimony
Examples of primary sources
include:
Books, magazines,
newspapers
Examples of primary sources:
Diaries, Personal Records
journals,
records
Examples of primary sources:
Visual Materials

Paintings, drawings,
sculpture
Examples of primary sources:
Visual Materials

photographs, film,
maps
Examples of primary sources:
Oral Histories

Chronicles, memoirs, myths,

legends passed down by word
of mouth
Examples of primary sources:
Songs and Poems
Examples of primary sources:
Artifacts

Tools, ornaments, objects

 Repositories of Primary Sources

National Archives of the National Library of

Philippines the Phils.

National Historical National Museum of

Commission of the Phils . the Philippines
 Repositories of Primary Sources:

U.P. Main Library ADMU Rizal Library

DLSU Library UST Library

 Repositories of Primary Sources

Library of Congress National Archives and Records

Administration

Archivo General de Indias Archivo General de la Nación

 Repositories of Primary Sources

American Historical Collection

Lopez Memorial
Museum

Ayala
Museum
 Kinds of Primary Sources

Human fossils Artifacts

 Kinds of Primary Sources

Royal Decrees & Laws Official Reports

 Kinds of Primary Sources

Chronicles Friar accounts

Kinds of Primary Sources

Maps
 Kinds of Primary Sources

Memoirs Personal Account

 Kinds of Primary Sources

Newspaper Magazines
Kinds of Primary Sources

Speeches Personal Letters

 Kinds of Primary Sources

On line databases Blogs

 Kinds of Primary Sources

Documentary Films Recorded Interviews

Secondary Sources
What are secondary sources?
interprets and analyzes primary
sources
one or more steps removed
from the event
may have pictures, quotes or
graphics of primary sources in
them.
Examples:
 Publications such as:
Textbooks
Magazine articles
Histories
Criticisms
Commentaries
Encyclopedias
Examples of secondary sources:

Textbooks, biographies,
histories, newspaper
report by someone who
was not present
Examples of secondary sources:

Charts, graphs, or images

created AFTER the time
period.
 PAST
P = Purpose: What was the object used for? What
does the text say? What does the picture show?
A=Author: Who created this?
S=Slant: Is there bias? What is the point of view
or frame of reference of the source.
T= Time Period: When was it created? What is
the historical context or what was happening at the
time it was created?
Practical Example/Worksheet
Topic: Tejeros Convention
Primary Source: Santiago Alvarez’
account
Secondary Source: Teodoro Agoncillo’s
Revolt of the Masses