Primary sources are newspaper articles, diaries, treaties, interviews, photographs and other materials that were created during the time period of study. Because primary sources vary in type, there are many ways to locate these sources. Look through the different boxes on this page to find great links to primary sources. Keep in mind that many different types of materials count as primary sources -- music, art, even advertisements.
The entire run of the New York Times, starting in 1851. To use, first set up a New York Times account using your campus email. Follow these instructions. Watch a video on how to use this database.
As our list below shows, excellent digital collections are available online. While this page cannot include even a fraction of what's available, here are some tips for finding online collections:
You can use online catalogs, such as our catalog and WorldCat, to find primary sources. Here are some tips for effective searches:
Portrait of Frederick Douglass by Notman Photo Co