The Library of Congress

Evaluating Primary Sources

Thomas Edison

What Do You Hear?

Scanning a recording
Scan this recording by listening to it, checking for:
  • its quality, the technology of the time, and frequency of use;

  • background noise or activity;

  • numbering, notes, names, and other clues to ownership, time period, etc.;

  • the speaker's voice and clues to the speaker's intent;

  • content or gist of recording.
.
Jot down your observations in the space below.

Let's move on to Examining a recording and uncover more of the story.

Evaluating Primary Sources: Getting Started | See | Hear | Read | Together | Resources


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Last updated 09/26/2002