ORIGIN – PURPOSE – VALUE LIMITATION
ORIGIN
 When and where was the source
produced?
 Who is the author/creator?
 Is it a primary or secondary source?
 *These can all be clues to aid in
evaluating the values and limitations of
the source*
PURPOSE
 Why was the source produced?
 What is the immediate historical context
for the source?
 Who is the intended audience?
 What does the source “say”?
 What can you read beyond the surface?
 *These can also provide information to
help analyze the values and limitations of
the source*
VALUE
 What can the source tell historians about the
time-period or specific topic of study?
 Think of a flashlight in a dark room – what
does the source illuminate for the historian?
 Important ideas:
– Perspective of author/creator based on position,
influence, geography, relationships, etc.
– Time period importance – is it contemporary or
produced at a later date (a primary or secondary
source)?
– Public or private source
LIMITATIONS
 How is the source restricted in what it
can tell historians about the time-period
or topic of study?
 Think of the flashlight/dark room – how
is the light’s beam restricted? What can
we not see?
 Important ideas:
– Bias of the source based on social class,
gender, race, position, nationality, religion,
etc.
– Time of production: again primary or
secondary
Example
 A historian is analyzing a private entry in President
Truman’s diary concerning the possible use of atomic
weapons on Japan. The following is a general OPVL
review. More specific analysis would make reference to
details in the document.
 Origin: President of the US, a private, primary source.
Context = World War II and the aftermath of Germany’s
surrender and the looming invasion of Japan.
 Purpose: personal journal meant for later reflection and
recall. Private, not public. Interpretation of what it says
(literally) and what it may reflect would be based on
specific document.
Example
 Value: private diary entry and thus likely to be honest and
revealing; from one of the major leaders concerned with
making the decision. Again, interpretations and
explanations would be based on specifics within the
document.
 Limitations: only the private perspective of a high ranking
government official from the US. May not reflect other
individual’s opinions who were also involved in the
decision-making process. Informs about the immediate
decision but not later concerns. May reflect but is not the
official public US government policy position or necessarily
the same as US public opinion on the issue.