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Women's History

The guide is created for Professor Haines HIST 36 Women in U.S. History class.

What Is a Primary Source?

A primary source is a document or evidence written or created during the time under study, or by one of the persons or organizations directly involved in the event. Primary sources offer an inside view of a particular event.

Some examples include:

  • Diaries, speeches, letters, minutes, interviews, news film footage, autobiographies, official records

The video below explains the differences between primary and secondary sources.  

Find Primary Sources in Books

To search the Library Catalog for primary source materials, try adding one of the following terms to your search: 

  • diaries
  • personal narratives
  • sources
  • correspondence
  • interviews
  • speeches
  • autobiography

 

screenshot of a library catalog search

Find Primary Sources in Newspapers

Find Primary Sources in Media