History

Primary sources such as diaries, letters, official documents, drawings, and photographs may be reprinted in books and government documents included in library collections. 

Tips for finding primary sources in the library:

• Use keywords that label primary sources such as: sources, diaries, correspondence, interviews, oral history, personal narratives, pictorial works, maps.
• Do author searches for names of people who wrote first-hand accounts.
• Search for newspapers.

Examples:

• United States -- Race relations -- Sources.
• Beloit (Wis.) -- History -- Pictorial works.
• World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, American.
• Kamikaze pilots -- Diaries.
• Ibn Batuta, -- 1304-1377.
• Women -- United States -- Diaries.
• Olaudah Equiano

Research Strategies for Working with Primary Sources 

A primary source document or collection is the “raw stuff” of history. Diaries, letters, newspapers, recordings and films provide an upfront, often revealing, glimpse at a particular person, event or historical time period. When using primary source material, it is important to devise a sound research strategy. Follow the link above for more details.