Sometimes you can find primary sources such as diaries, letters, eye-witness accounts or journals written by a person who was actually there when the events in history took place. Many authors use these resources when writing their stories. Look at the back of the book to see if the author lists the resources he or she used.

For example, Jean Fritz uses direct quotes from Paul Revere's journal in her book, And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?

The Internet has many of these primary sources for our review. See if you can find a diary or letter or speech written by a real person who would have lived during the time of your book.

LETTER OF THOMAS BRATTLE, F. R. S., 1692*

October 8, 1692.
Reverend Sir,

Your's I received the other day, and am very ready to serve you to my uttmost. I should be very loath to bring myself into any snare by my freedom with you, and therefore hope that you will put the best construction on what I write, and secure me from such as would interprett my lines otherwise than they are designed. Obedience to lawfull authority I evermore accounted a great duty; and willingly I would not practise any thing that might thwart and contradict such a principle. Too many are ready to despise dominions, and speak evil of Dignities; and I am sure the mischiefs, which arise from a factious and rebellious spirit, are very sad and notorious; insomuch that I would sooner bite my finger's ends than willingly cast dirt on authority, or any way offer reproach to it: Far, therefore, be it from me, to have any thing to do with those men your letter mentions, whom you acknowledge to be men of a factious spirit, and never more in their element than when they are declaiming against men in public place, and contriving methods that tend to the disturbance of the common peace. I never accounted it a credit to my cause, to have the good liking of such men. My son! (says Solomon) fear thou the Lord and the King, and meddle not with them that are given to change. Prov. xxiv. 21. However, Sir, I never thought Judges infallible; but reckoned that they, as well as private men, might err; and that when they were guilty of erring, standers by, who possibly had not half their judgment, might, notwithstanding, be able to detect and behold their errors.

Things to look for -

Context clues - some words may have had different meanings than what they have today. Example: "I am sure the mischiefs, which arise...."
Misspellings - spelling has not always been standardized or may reflect a different culture. Example: "practise"
Words no longer in common usage - word usage changes over a period of time, a word that is commonly used today may not have been used at all in the past and visa versa. Example: "thwart"
Double letters - it was common to use double letters or not double them. Example: "lawfull" "interprett"
Capital letters - sometimes common nouns were capitalized. Example: "Dignities"
Look for "u" and "v" - these letters were sometimes used interchangeably.

Primary Sources

LETTER OF THOMAS BRATTLE, F. R. S., 1692*