History

Primary sources provide first-hand testimony or direct evidence concerning a topic under investigation. They are created by witnesses or recorders who experienced the events or conditions being documented.  Often these sources are created at the time when the events or conditions are occurring, but primary sources can also include autobiographies, memoirs, and oral histories recorded later.

Examples of primary sources include:

• Diaries, Memoirs, and Autobiographies
• Newspaper/Magazine Articles (written at the time studied)
• Narratives    
• Images
• Speeches
• Government Information
• Interviews and Oral history transcripts or tapes
• Artifacts
• Letters
• Maps

Here are some specialized databases and websites that can help with your history 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.