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History - European

A guide to library and quality web resources useful for European history research

Primary Sources Handouts

What are Primary and Secondary Sources?

Click to see slide show.

             link to What are Primary and Secondary Sources slideshow

Tips for identifying Primary Sources

  • Look for primary sources listed in the bibliographies of secondary sources on your topic.
  • Look for primary sources that are published or reprinted in books
  • Use periodicals (newspapers, magazines, journals) from the time period.
  • Don't forget to look for government and organization documents, if relevant.

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, MIDCAT, or other databases.