Kate,

Personally I would consider the image of the document a primary source if it is the information contained in that document that is important.  A translation of that document would be a secondary source because information in the document has been filtered and once removed from the original.  If, however, the researcher is looking beyond the contents of a document to the physical form then the image is secondary.  Footnote would contain would contain URL and documents physical location with further note that Web image was used.
Just my thoughts

.At 12:40 PM 09/10/2003, you wrote:
This is a question my education coordinator asked that I pose to the group:

With more and more documents/photographs/images of objects from a museum
collection posted to the web, students have begun to cite them as primary
sources in their research.  For example, a student may use a letter written
by an historic person and found on a web-site - an image of the letter is
there as well as a full transcription.  Since it is only a digital copy and
not the original, would it still be considered a primary source?  What if
only a transcription was provided, and not the image?   If you have some
insight into this, or just a good opinion, please respond to Brian Banton at
[log in to unmask]  Thanks!

Kate Higgins
Curator
Pejepscot Historical Society
159 Park Row
Brunswick, ME 04011
207-729-6606
207-729-6012 (fax)

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