Looking for a primary source?

Because different disciplines have different definitions of primary sources, there isn’t just one way to find them. In general, primary sources are the “raw materials” or original documents used by each discipline. They provide first-hand testimony or direct evidence from that time or that event. Some examples might be: letters, diaries, autobiographies, memoirs, maps, photographs, speeches, interviews, official records, and oral histories. If you need help finding primary sources and verifying that these would be reliable sources within your discipline, it’s best to contact your subject librarian.