Defining primary sources (Library of Congress):
"Primary sources are the raw materials of history — original documents and objects which were created at the time under study. They are different from secondary sources, accounts or interpretations of events created by someone without firsthand experience."
The History Subject Guide has a page on Primary Sources that is more detailed and spans different topics and regions. Check it out!
Use the Novanet Advanced Search to find primary sources. Adding primary source-related keywords to your Novanet search will help you to more easily locate primary source materials. Some keywords that can be used to locate primary sources are:
diaries | pamphlets |
sources | archives |
correspondence | interviews |
notebooks | personal narratives |
speeches | facsimiles |
biography | reports |
pictorial works | songs and music |
manuscripts | notes, sketchbooks, etc. |
The video below will walk you through searching for primary sources in Novanet.
Google and other search engines are also good for finding primary sources. Many libraries and other institutions have digitized primary source collections and made them available to the public. Use Google or other search engines to find primary source materials by adding primary source-specific terms (see "Find primary sources in Novanet" for a list). For example, 19th century Britain pamphlets.