Subject Guide for Primary Sources

Contents

Types of Primary Sources

There are many types of primary sources and several ways of organizing them. Here is one approach:

Contemporary accounts such as Eyewitness, personal Records, archives - national, state, local, very local (e.g. SDSU)

Original works, such as in literature and in science (e.g. Watson and Crick's original DNA article).

Objects, including art, tools, utilitarian items, campaign buttons, tombstones, etc.

Maps

Photos and documentary (newsreel) films

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Finding Primary Sources in General

In the PAC, use "sources" and "personal narratives" as a subdivision under such topics as Civilization, Western; United States - History; France - History; etc. The best way to do this is to use a general term and then limit by words in the subject ("sources", "personal narratives"). By doing it this way, you get items that are specific to an era or a subdivision without knowing what those terms or dates are. For example, if you look up France - History - Sources, you get five entries; if you look up France - History and then limit by 'Words in the Subject" and put in the term "sources," you get 143.[Note: since the time that these sample searches were done, new items may have arrived so you might get a different result] If you know specific persons based on previous research (which is why it is a good idea to do secondary research first), you can look up names as authors or subjects.

A more detailed guide on Using Primary Sources on the Web has been developed by the History Section of the Reference and Users Services Association.

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United States

Some collections are:
Documents of American History ("Commager") E 173 C66 1973 REF
Annals of America E 173 A793 (one copy in REF; second copy in compact shelving in basement)
Los Angeles Times - 1881-1985; 1986 to present is found in ProQuest Newspapers
New York Times - 1851-2002; 2003 to present is found in ProQuest Newspapers (an index is found at AI 21 N44 REF)
Early American Newspapers (microprint P-3; guide available)

Internet sites:
Smithsonian History and Culture
Library of Congress American Memory - In addition to containing primary source documents, this site has a good guide to using primary sources in the classroom
AMDOCS: Documents for the Study of American History
Historical Voices - Covers twentieth century, mostly U.S. Unique in that it includes recordings.

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Rest of World

There are many collections of sources from world history or western civilization, often called "readings" books. Use LC subject headings Civilization, Western - History - Sources and History - Sources to find these in the PAC. Another good term to use is Archives and "Archives" as a subdivision under other topics. There are also some guides to sites on the internet that have primary sources, such as
The European History Highway D16.117 .E97 2002
History and the Internet D16.117 .R43 2002
To find others, use terms such as History - Computer network resources or History - Research.

Internet sites:
Internet History Sourcebooks Project
Center for History and New Media A megasite leading you to many other websites but also containing actual primary source documents on several topics.
Also see the SDSU Library research guide on Roman History

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Government Publications

Materials from governments at all levels are often considered primary sources. The SDSU library has material from all levels of government but its main emphases are the United States and California state government as well as the United Nations. Appropriate sources will depend on the topic.

United States Government
Examples: agency reports, foreign policy documents, laws, treaties, presidential papers, etc. Good starting places for general topics are the following
Foreign Relations of the United States (S 1.1 US REF or on the web)
Presidential Papers. To find these, see guide. Other SDSU Library research guides to help you find primary government publications are California State Government
Examples: laws, agency reports, etc. A guide is found at
State and Local Government Information

United Nations
Examples: proceedings, resolutions, statements, speeches, etc. A guide for U.N. and other non-U.S. materials is
International and Foreign Information

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Special Collections and Archives

Collections of rare books and other items as well as archival collections related to the local area or the university are good places to find primary sources. At SDSU, we have a department of Special Collections and Archives located on the fourth floor of the Library Addition (the dome section of the Library building).

Among the collection strengths are For more information about the collections go to the web page for Special Collections

The San Diego State University Archives is a repository for materials which document the history of this institution since its foundation in 1897 as a school for elementary teachers. On deposit are approximately 800 linear feet of manuscript and archival materials, 150 linear feet of published and unpublished reports, periodicals and serials, and photographic and oral history collections.
For more information on the collections in Archives go to the web page for the SDSU Archives
This guide was created by Charles Dintrone, Librarian Emeritus.
 
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