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See our Primary Source Timeline to browse a selection of primary source databases organized by coverage dates and locations.
For other types of primary sources such as diaries, interviews, pamphlets, government documents, manuscripts, and so on, you can search the Library Catalog below and/or WorldCat.
Type in the keyword search term plus the type of primary source ("diary" etc).
Another way is to read the bibliographies of articles and books that you already have found. You may find out what primary sources that the other scholars are using. Once you identify the sources, it should be easy to get hold of them, either by checking our library collection or requesting them via interlibrary loan.
For more information, see our guide on locating primary sources.
You can support your argument by quoting from secondary sources (studies done by other scholars). But you have to use primary sources to make an original claim or argument.
Access newspapers from around the world, plus a wealth of legal, business, medical, and reference information. This collection includes news; cases; statutes & legislation; law reviews & journals; administrative codes & regulations; company and financial data (SEC Filings, company profiles, etc.); and government, legal, and business directories. Coverage: varies but mostly mid-19th century to current, contains primary sources. Mostly full text.
Artstor website retires as a separate website on Aug. 1, 2024 and will become Artstor on JSTOR
Explore quality images covering the visual arts, architecture, archaeology, fashion, geography, the performing arts, science, and technology. Collections feature visual media from leading museums, photo archives, scholars, and artists, which have been rights-cleared for educational use. ***It is necessary to turn off your browser's pop-up blocker for ARTstor to work properly.*** Recommended instructions for using ARTstor on JSTOR are available. A video on how to refine image searches in JSTOR is also available. Coverage: all eras, contains primary sources. Full text.