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Finding Primary Source Materials: How to Search

This guide provides recommended resources for finding primary source materials.

Keywords to Search

Try adding some of the keywords below to your search for primary sources:

  • sources or primary sources
  • documents or primary documents
  • personal narratives
    • Sample search: “world war ii” and personal narratives
  • speeches
    • Sample search: slavery and speeches
  • correspondence
    • Sample search: “world war i” and correspondence
  • diaries
  • letters
  • charters
  • early works
  • interviews
  • manuscripts
  • oratory
  • pamphlets

Primary & Secondary Research

The following video will help you to understand the differences between primary research and secondary research, and the ethical considerations associated with them (from off campus you will need to log in using your Pipeline username and password):