contemporary document

[kən-ˈtem-pə-rer-ē ˈdä-kyə-mənt]
nounpl: contemporary documents
documento contemporâneo
1. A written or recorded material that was created at the same time as the events it describes or during the period being studied
The historian relied on contemporary documents from the 1920s to understand the economic crisis.
O historiador confiou em documentos contemporâneos dos anos 1920 para entender a crise econômica.
2. Primary source material that provides firsthand evidence of a historical period
Contemporary documents such as letters and newspapers are invaluable to researchers.
Documentos contemporâneos como cartas e jornais são inestimáveis para pesquisadores.
3. Official or unofficial records created during the same era being investigated
The trial's outcome was proven through contemporary documents submitted as evidence.
O resultado do julgamento foi comprovado através de documentos contemporâneos apresentados como evidência.
In Brazilian academic and museum contexts, contemporary documents are highly valued in research institutions. They are central to historiography and archival studies. In Portugal, the term 'documento coevo' is also frequently used as a synonym. In the United States, these documents form the backbone of historical research and are often displayed in museums and libraries as treasured artifacts representing specific historical periods.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
primary sourcefirsthand accountoriginal documentperiod documentsource material
Antonyms / Antônimos
secondary sourceretrospective accountmodern interpretationhistorical reconstruction

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
documento contemporâneo
Standard term used in academic and historical contexts
Rio de Janeiro
documento contemporâneo
Commonly used in universities and cultural institutions
São Paulo
documento contemporâneo
Frequently used in museums, archives, and research centers
Portugal
documento coevo
Alternative Portuguese term meaning from the same period; 'documento contemporâneo' also acceptable

Related Words

archival materialhistorical recordsmanuscriptprimary sourceevidencetestimonialcorrespondence

Related Idioms & Phrases

stand the test of time
from the horse's mouth
eyewitness account
written in stone
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →