Primary Sources: Home

This guide will help you find primary documents in the following areas:

History:

• African Americans
• Art (Dance, Fashion, Images, Library Resources, Museums, Music)
• Asian Americans
• Native Americans
• Pacific Northwest
• Sciences - as seen through history (Natural Sciences, Evolution, Physical Sciences, Technology)
• United States
• Women
• World

Scientific Research

When doing research, sources are categorized in three types:

Primary sources:

Primary sources are firsthand accounts of events or periods of time, as well as original research and data.

Examples: diaries, photographs, scientific research

Secondary sources:

Secondary sources are interpretations, discussions,and analysis of primary sources. They are used to gain a broader understanding of the subject.

Examples: articles, magazines

Tertiary sources: 

Tertiary sources analyze, synthesize, and report on secondary sources. They are often written for a general audience.

Examples: textbooks, encyclopedias, Wikipedia