Primary Source Sets

Data—from the raw numbers to the carefully crafted visual representations—pays homage to the circumstances of an era, a place, a researcher, and even an idea. At its best, data and visuals can convey messages succinctly and successfully, change perceptions, and ignite change. At its worst, data and visuals can be difficult to understand, fraught with biases, and visually lackluster. Most data and visual representations probably lie somewhere in the middle between the two extremes. This primary source set explores data as something more than numbers and lines on a page. The data in this primary source set may represent long forgotten or rejected claims, but the visual representations remain keenly insightful into the technology, the methods, and the strategies used to gather and display data. Together, the collections in the primary source set span decades. The information is sometimes out-of-date, but at other times, it remains more relevant—and intriguing—than ever.

Created by Ashlee Fox