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Primary sources connect the historian to the past. They are 'items that are directly associated with their producer or user and the time period in which they were created. Examples include diaries, newspaper articles, government documents, clothing, photographs, oral interviews, and news broadcasts.' (Presnell 93)
Use Library of Congress subject headings in K-Search--identify the subject heading for a person, event, or topic, and then add one of the following subheadings:
Limit your search by year of publication, e.g., between 1932 and 1945.
Search for your topic across archival catalogs and special collections from all over the world using WorldCat or the open source platform ArchiveGrid. Many results link to digitized resources that are free to use. Don't forget to cite!
Refer to the Libguide listed below for an excellent overview of primary sources available through Kenyon.
Full Text available in PDF format.
Primary sources from the African-American struggle for freedom and equality from 1790 to the contemporary period. The collection consists of Federal Government records, organizational records, and personal papers.
Newspapers and periodicals can be valuable primary sources. Use newspapers to trace public debate on a political issue, or to look at trends in advertising and culture.
Once you identify the person, event, or trend you want to examine, ask yourself about the time period and geographical location. Some newspapers and periodicals are also available online.
Search for journals by title in K-Search, and use the Newspapers search to find newspapers.
Large collection of historical newspapers (1800-1922) from the U.S. and around the world in English and other languages.