Primary sources are the "raw" materials of research. They allow one to study evidence firsthand without the interpretations or analyses of others. Some examples of primary sources include the following:
To find Primary Sources in the University Library's online catalog, use keywords such as "letters," "diaries," "correspondence," "manuscripts," and "narratives" with your topic to find historical documents or first-person accounts.
Secondary sources are the interpretation of historical events and people that provide the student with the author's analyses and evaluations. Secondary sources allow the student to understand how others have viewed and interpreted the topic or event.
Click here to view a short video about how to use the Library's Special Collections Department.
Strike at Rio Blanco Textile Works c.1910. ARTstor Collection
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