Primary Sources

 According to the Library of Congress, “Primary Sources are the raw materials of history – original documents and objects which were created at the time of study by people who had firsthand experience of the event”. They can include newspapers, personal letters, editorials, photographs, books, conference proceedings, speeches, newsletters, patents, movies, objects, trade journals, paintings, art, and music.

"Primary sources give insight into events and feelings about those events. They help broaden our understanding of historic events, people, and places...[T]hey also improve our critical thinking skills because we have to think about many different aspects of a primary source: who created it, why it was created, what purpose it served, how it related to the events of the time, etc."

But how do I find Primary Sources?

Either use our databases (JSTOR, EBSCO, Academic Onefile) or try the many web resources that are linked to Library of Congress sites. These are found on the LRC home page under Library on the left hand side of the page.

Example: The Spanish Influenza outbreak of 1918

JSTOR – Use the Advanced Search screen – then enter your search term(s) and the appropriate dates. Remember, JSTOR does not allow for subject searching, so in this instance Spanish Influenza is searched within the full-text of the article between the years 1918 to 1919. Limiting the search to this time frame ensures that any resources that are displayed are first-person accounts, and therefore primary sources.

This is what your search looks like:

Here are your results:








 Now open the article PDF:














 Check back for more information on Primary Sources from the LRC.