What are Primary Sources?
"Primary sources are original records created at the time historical events occurred or well after events in the form of memoirs and oral histories. Primary sources may include letters, manuscripts, diaries, journals, newspapers, speeches, interviews, memoirs, documents produced by government agencies such as Congress or the Office of the President, photographs, audio recordings, moving pictures or video recordings, research data, and objects or artifacts such as works of art or ancient roads, buildings, tools, and weapons"Reference and User Services Association, American Library Association. "Using Primary Sources on the Web." January 10, 2008.
Finding Primary Sources
Online Catalog
Search for the event, or the name of a person(s) or organization that participated in the event.
NCSSM Web Resources
These resources, as well as many others, can be accessed from the Databases Web page.
- NC Live: is a large collection of resources. Within selected resources, there are diaries, historical documents, histories, images, letters, maps, narratives, and newspapers
- ProQuest Platinum: newspapers
Suggestions for Finding Primary Sources on the Web
Using a search engine of your choice, type in the name of an individual or organization involved in the event, the event itself, or the name of a document related to the event. (You can consult with a librarian to receive ideas about search terms.)
Another strategy is to search within large collections of materials, such as the "American Memory" or "Documenting the American South," to see if there is relevant information.
Choose to look at Websites that are maintained by academic institutions, libraries, or government agencies. Websites by associations or non-profits (.org) may also be worth viewing. Always be sure to pay attention to the quality of the information (scan, audio, video), and the credentials of the organization producing it.