Use the library catalog to locate historical primary sources in the form of print and online books, journals, reprints, microforms, and government documents. Combine your search term(s) with one of the following words and search the terms as a subject.
Or try one of these terms as a keyword: autobiography, memoir, speech, oral history, address
Primary sources were either created during the time period being studied or were created at a later date by a participant in the events being studied (as in the case of memoirs). They reflect the individual viewpoint of a participant or observer. Primary sources enable the researcher to get as close as possible to what actually happened during an historical event or time period; some types of primary sources might be historical magazines or newspapers, diaries or journals, old photographs, interviews, letters, and more. A secondary source is a work that interprets or analyzes an historical event or phenomenon. It is generally at least one step removed from the event and is often based on primary sources. Examples include: scholarly or popular books and articles, reference books, and textbooks.