Advice on Searching for Primary Sources
First, don't restrict yourself to library databases. Primary source collections are often found free online, depending on the subject you are researching.
Second, when you use library databases you will get limited results if you try to search for "primary sources" because the Library of Congress does not use that subject heading. If a "Primary Sources" category is not available (JSTOR provides one that is very useful!) Try searching these subject headings instead:
- sources
- personal narratives
- documents
- speeches
- memoirs or autobiographies
- diaries
- letters or correspondences
- oral histories
SOME ADVICE ON AUTOBIOGRAPHIES: You will get limited results searching for the word "autobiography" since the Library of Congress does not use that subject heading. Try searching for "biography" but then look to make sure that the author is also listed as a subject. That is your clue that the person is writing about him or herself, and that is a primary source.
DOCUMENTARY HISTORIES: There are collections of documents relating to various subjects, such as Agriculture in the United States: A Documentary History. Search WorldCat or IDS for these by typing your subject along with the phrase "documentary history" in quotes.
DOCUMENTARY FILMS: Be wary of "documentaries" (films) because sometimes they are primary sources but sometimes they provide analysis that is secondary.
PUBLICATION DATES: Be aware that publication dates can be misleading. A new edition of a book published in 1952 is still a primary source even though its publication date is 2009. Look for a books original publication date, which is usually listed as well.
Newspapers/Magazines from the 18th & 19th Century
- 18th Century Collections Online This link opens in a new windowSearch and view digital images of books and their contents published during the 18th Century. With full-text searching of millions of pages, researchers have new methods of access to critical information in the fields of history, literature, religion, law, fine arts, science and more.
- 19th Century US Newspapers Digital Archive This link opens in a new windowDigital facsimile images of both full pages and clipped articles for hundreds of 19th century U.S. newspapers. For each issue, the newspaper is captured from cover-to-cover, providing access to every article, advertisement and illustration.
- American Antiquarian Society Historical Periodicals Collection This link opens in a new windowComprised of over 10 million pages, this collection contains approximately 7600 distinct periodical titles, all published between 1691 and 1877. The collection touches on a range of subject areas, including, but not limited to: science, technology, medicine, Native American and African American populations, law, politics, government, music, the arts, literature, language, publishing, agriculture, business and industry, advertising and marketing, religion, philosophy, social movements, military matters, and leisure activities.
- Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers This link opens in a new windowThis site allows you to search and view newspaper pages from 1880-1910 and find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present.
- Readers' Guide Retrospective This link opens in a new windowComprehensive indexing of the most popular general-interest periodicals published in the United States from 1890 - 1982. Reflects the history of 20th century America.
- Sabin Americana, 1500-1926 This link opens in a new windowBased on Joseph Sabin's landmark bibliography, this collection contains works about the Americas published throughout the world from 1500 to the early 1900's. Included are books, pamphlets, serials and other documents that provide original accounts of exploration, trade, colonialism, slavery and abolition, the western movement, Native Americans, military actions and much more. With over 6 million pages from 29,000 works, this collection is a cornerstone in the study of the western hemisphere.
- Slavery And Anti-Slavery: A Transnational Archive This link opens in a new windowThe largest and most ambitious project of its kind, this collection is devoted to the scholarly study and understanding of slavery from a multinational perspective. An unprecedented collection developed under the guidance of a board of scholars, it offers never before available research opportunities and endless teaching possibilities.
- The Times Digital Archive This link opens in a new windowFirst published in 1785, The Times of London is widely considered to be the world's 'newspaper of record'. The Times Digital Archive allows users to search over 200 years of this invaluable historical source.
- Women and Social Movements in the United States, 1600-2000 This link opens in a new windowBrings together articles, books, images, documents, scholarly essays, commentaries, and bibliographies, documenting the multiplicity of women’s reform activities. ”Teaching Tools” has 21 comprehensive lesson plans with over 100 lesson ideas and six Document-Based Question units.
- World Scholar: Latin America And The Caribbean This link opens in a new windowAn archive of digitized primary documents focus on the history of Latin America and the Caribbean back to the early 1800s through the contemporary period sourced from collections in the U.S. and abroad. Also provides access to reference, periodicals, multimedia, reports, studies, journals, newspapers, and statistical data.
- Harper's Magazine ArchiveHarper's Magazine has been a popular American periodical since 1850. Selected articles are available full text at this web site.
- HEARTH: Home Economics Archive Research Tradition HistoryHEARTH offers free Internet access to the full text of thirteen journal runs and over 1,500 books: Journals include Good Housekeeping and Harper's Bazaar (1867-1900).
- Making of AmericaMaking of America (MoA) is a digital library of primary sources in American social history from the antebellum period through reconstruction. The collection contains books and journal articles across the subject areas of education, psychology, American history, sociology, religion, and science and technology.
- Newspapers in Microform (full text from the Library of Congress)This book lists newspapers that were being published in towns and cities across the US in the 19th and 20th centuries. You can order these newspapers on microfilm via the IDS office.
- New York Historic NewspapersThe New York Historic Newspapers project exists to digitize and make freely available for research significant runs of historic newspapers for every county in the state.
- Poole's Index to Periodical Literature (Full text from GoogleBooks)This lists articles in 19th century periodicals by subject. You can use IDS to request copies of articles.
Newspapers & Magazines from Pre-18th Century
- The Times Digital Archive This link opens in a new windowFirst published in 1785, The Times of London is widely considered to be the world's 'newspaper of record'. The Times Digital Archive allows users to search over 200 years of this invaluable historical source.
- Women and Social Movements in the United States, 1600-2000 This link opens in a new windowBrings together articles, books, images, documents, scholarly essays, commentaries, and bibliographies, documenting the multiplicity of women’s reform activities. ”Teaching Tools” has 21 comprehensive lesson plans with over 100 lesson ideas and six Document-Based Question units.
There were newspapers and broadsheets published before 1700; most of them can be found reprinted in books or online. Do a search in IDS Search using your topic and terms like documents, sources, publications, articles, periodicals, newspapers. Try GoogleBooks as well.
