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American Studies

Browse library resources for American Studies (go/amstguide)

What is a primary source?

Primary vs. Secondary Sources

Primary sources were created at the time of an event or period. They are often the product of an eyewitness or an original creator. They might be original reports of an event, artifacts from an event or time period, or creative works, and include:

  • memoirs
  • letters
  • interviews
  • pottery
  • novels
  • poems

Secondary sources interpret, analyze, or contextualize primary sources. They are second-hand interpretations. They might include:

  • documentaries
  • biographies
  • research articles 

 

How Do I Find Primary Sources?

Find Memoirs, Letters, Interviews, & More

Add Primary Source Keywords to Your Search Terms

  • autobiography
  • memoir
  • sources
  • personal narrative*
  • letters
  • correspondence
  • diaries
  • diary
  • interview*
  • oral history
  • archives
  • speeches
  • notebooks, sketchbooks

Example:
Kenya and history and (letters or correspondence or narratives)

This technique can be used in LibrarySearch, or other databases.

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