Primary sources are materials produced at the time of the historical event you are studying. They provide insight into historical events because they are made by the people who have lived through them. Primary sources can be textual (books, newspapers, journals, letters, and other written material) or nontextual (pictures, art, recordings, and physical objects).
Sometimes finding primary sources involves creative thinking about what can serve as evidence about the past. Art, images, and objects can be good options too, not just documents!
In evaluating primary sources, consider several points about each source. Think about its...
Many primary sources, especially about events further in the past, may be located in special collections or archives. Some may exist only in print form, requiring travel to view and access. However, there are also many online, digitized collections of primary source material that can be drawn upon for historical research. Here are some useful online collections that do not require you to log in with university credentials:
