Western Civilization

Searching for primary sources may require different methods than searching for other sources (such as scholarly journal articles or books). Here are a few tips and tricks for finding primary sources:

• Limit to specific time periods: Use date ranges (on the Advanced Search page) to focus your search
• Extend time ranges: Include at least a few weeks after an event when searching for a specific time period, as it may have taken time for news about the event to be formally reported on.
• Start broad with a narrow time period: Use a narrow time period, but start your search with the broadest topic
  • Example: If your topic is the Massacre at Wounded Knee, search for: "wounded knee" + limit to date range of 12/29/1890-1/12/1891 (the word massacre may not have been used immediately after the event)
• Use primary source keywords to find primary sources:  Use search terms that reflect the types of primary sources you’re looking for, such as:
  • Diaries
  • Pamphlets
  • Correspondence, Letters
  • Speeches
  • Manuscripts
  • Personal narratives
  • Interviews
  • Firsthand, eyewitness, sources, etc.

Newspaper Sources

Check out online primary source collections from archives, libraries, museums, and historical societies!