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HIST 4290: Enslavement in the Americas

What Are Primary Sources?

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!

The Power of Subject Terms

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.

Books Available Online

Digital Collections @ GSU