Primary Source Materials

In the scope of historical research, primary sources are the evidence left behind by individuals, cultures, and societies. Primary sources originate from the time period under investigation, but can also include autobiographies, memoirs, audio recordings, and other firsthand accounts recorded after-the-fact.

Some things to consider before searching for primary sources:

  1. Use a subject encyclopedia to discover key people, places, and concepts for your topic.
  2. Consider what types of primary sources are available on your topic.
  3. Are these sources published or unpublished? (Published will be easier to find through the library.)
  4. Could the sources have been made available in a different format or online?

Historical Newspapers

Web Resources