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History Resources: Primary Sources

Historical Theories and Methods

What You'll Find Here

Many primary sources are materials that were created at the time of an event. They are also original records or firsthand accounts. You will find primary sources in multiple formats and in a variety of places, such as libraries, museums, state archives, and universities.

Find Primary Sources

What is a Primary Source?

Many primary sources are materials that were created at the time of the event. They are also original records or firsthand accounts. You will find primary sources in multiple formats, for instance, in print, or as electronic resources like web sites or e-books. Many libraries, state archives, museums, and universities have web sites that include digital collections.  Examples of a primary source can include:

Speeches

Letters 

Diaries 

Images

Newspaper Articles

Magazine/Journal Articles (written at the time studied)

Pamphlets 

Artifacts

Government Information 

Maps

Finding Books & E-Books

Try the following sample Library Catalog searche, then refine/filter the results by format, date, or subject to see how the results change.