Primary sources are the raw materials of historical research - they are the documents or artifacts closest to the topic of investigation. Often they are created during the time period which is being studied (correspondence, diaries, newspapers, government documents, art) but they can also be produced later by eyewitnesses or participants (memoirs, oral histories). You may find primary sources in their original format (usually in an archive) or reproduced in a variety of ways: books, microfilm, digital, etc.
In contrast...
Secondary sources are interpretations of events written after an examination of primary sources and usually other secondary sources, such as books and journal articles.
When you write a research paper, you are creating a secondary source!
Many libraries and organizations are making digital materials available online.
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?​
African Americans and the Haitian Revolution: Selected Essays and Historical Documents by 
Pioneers of the Black Atlantic: Five Slave Narratives from the Enlightenment, 1772-1815 by 
The Autobiography of a Slave by You can use Library of Congress subject terms (see Books and Articles tabs) to help you find primary sources.
- Primary-source books and other resources in GIL/GILFind (or any library catalog) will have subject terms in their records. Those subject terms may include words that signal "primary source," such as:
(image from http://www.wordle.net/)
- Use other subject terms to help you identify other keywords/subject terms relevant to your topic.
The material in this resources includes the material included focuses on the varieties of slavery, the legacies of slavery, the social justice perspective and the continued existence of slavery in the twentieth century. Offers primary source documents and secondary sources allowing for exploration and comparison of material related to slavery, abolition, and social justice.
Formerly Accessible Archives. A collection of African American newspapers containing a wealth of first-hand reports about cultural life and history during the 1800s.
Represents the largest single collection of seventeenth and eighteenth century English news media available from the British Library.
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.
