Questions to ask when you are assessing online primary-source collections:
Use Google and other sources to research the authors, organizations, or institutions responsible for the page and for its funding. Don't just trust the About page!
For more information about evaluating websites, see the Evaluating Information tab, above.
Many libraries and organizations are making digital materials available online.
To find these collections, use this search string in Google or another search engine, in addition to keywords relevant to your topic, for example:
digital collection library site:.edu slavery atlantic
You can also try the same search limiting to site:org rather than site:edu BUT:
Be careful!
EDU = educational institution
ORG = organization, which can mean almost ANY kind of noncorporate organization. If you aren't familiar with the organization, do some research on it! Who are they? What do they promote? Are they reliable?
In this era of "fake news," don't just trust the information you see on a website's "About Us" tab or page.
Google the organization and learn more about them
from other sources.
* * *
For more information about evaluating websites, see the Evaluating Information tab, above.
George Mason University's National History Education Clearinghouse has published reviews of over 1000 history-oriented websites.
The National Endowment for the Humanities' Edsitement! site's History/Social Studies section also includes many approved websites featuring historical material.
Browse, or use keywords to search for a website or digital library relevant to your topic.
Many state-based libraries and organizations are digitizing materials relating to the their state.
The Library of Congress has assembled this list of state digital libraries. Search by state, or check out the Multi-State options.
These online collections include digital versions of many out-of-copyright works including government documents, historical magazines and other periodicals, and books published before 1923. Coverage can be spotty, but these sites are worth searching... just in case.
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
Curious about the Text Creation Partnership and its projects? Learn more here!
Selected database collections. These are GSU subscription resources requiring a campus ID and password for off-campus access.
For a full list of our subscription databases (including primary-source digital collections) see our Databases A-Z list.
For historical periodical databases, see the Historical Periodicals tab.
For historical newspaper databases, see the Historical Newspapers tab/guide.
Rock and Roll, Counterculture, Peace and Protest: Popular Culture explores the dynamic period of social, political and cultural change between 1950 and 1975, offering thousands of color images of manuscript and rare printed material as well as photographs, ephemera and memorabilia from this exciting period in our recent history
