A primary source is any document or artifact created at the time of an event. They may describe an experience or thought about the event. Some examples include diaries, journals, letters, photographs, maps, recorded film or audio, interviews, speeches, sculptures, statistical data, a statute of government, some newspaper and magazine articles, manuscripts, minutes, fossils, and some original research or experimentation.
Primary sources can be from any time period, including more current events. For example, a tweet posted during an event can be considered a primary source for that event.
Primary sources can be found online through local and national archive websites, historic newspaper collections, and other online primary source websites. Find a full list of our primary source databases on the A-Z database list, or check out the Research Guide for your discipline for specific recommendations.