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Primary sources are original materials created during the time period you are studying or by people directly connected to an event, topic, or experience. 

Examples of primary sources include: 

• Letters, diaries, speeches, interviews, and memoirs 

• Photographs, maps, posters, advertisements, and artwork 

• Newspaper articles from the time of an event 

• Government documents, laws, court cases, and public records 

• Data, statistics, lab notebooks, or original research findings 

• Historical books or documents from the period you are studying 

To find primary sources through the library, try searching the library's QuickSearch or databases using your topic plus words like: 

primary sources, letters, diaries, interviews, speeches, newspapers, documents, archives, data, statistics, photographs, or oral histories 

You can also search library primary source databases that include historical newspapers, archival collections, government information, or discipline-specific research materials. 

If you are not sure whether something counts as a primary source, ask a librarian. We can help you identify the right type of source for your assignment and show you where to find it. 

For more help, visit the library’s Primary Sources Guide, for tips, examples, and online resources for finding primary sources.