Primary sources provide first-hand testimony or evidence directly related to a person, event, place, or era. They are created by witnesses who use different ways to record the events, experiences, or conditions as they happen. Since the majority of these sources are created in real time as events unfold, they often provide students with a window into the humanity of history.
Primary sources can also include autobiographies, memoirs, and oral histories recorded later. An important factor to keep in mind about records made after an event is whether or not the person making the record lived through the event. If they didn't, it's no longer a first-hand account. That's why autobiographies are considered primary sources and biographies are secondary sources.
Infographic courtesy of Randolph Community College Library: Primary vs Secondary Sources Libguide
Here are some specialized databases and websites that can help with your primary source research. Each database/website has a description that will help you decide if it will be helpful for your topic. Try several different databases to make sure you find the best possible information.
*Some of these databases require your student username and password for off-campus use, so make sure to have those ready.
The following archival collections are located at different universities in North Carolina.
This tutorial from History Skills shows viewers how to approach historical documents using IOP CAM, which stands for Information, Origin, Perspective, Context, Audience, and Motive. In-depth videos for each of these skills are linked in the video's notes. Using IOP CAM, students are taught how to draft an analysis statement, which is useful when having to describe a primary source for an assignment.
This tutorial showcases another way to analyze a primary source record. They use OPVL, which stands for Origin, Purpose, Value, and Limitations. After explaining the evaluation strategy, viewers are walked through a primary source analysis exercise.
If you are researching major historical or political events, this is a great place to start. These milestone documents helped shape the trajectory of different countries and cultures both in the US and around the world.