Primary research sources are original, first-hand accounts of a culture, event, or time period. Primary sources may include government and legal documents; historical texts (such as letters and diaries); oral histories; photographs; video recordings; artworks; various archival materials; original news stories and articles reporting on events; journal articles that report the results of original research; scholarly books and book chapters may also provide extensive quotations, narratives, or other data that constitute primary source material. Essentially, primary sources are any data collected directly from the people or environment being studied, as opposed to secondary sources which analyze or interpret that data.
There are many different types of archives located around the world, including national, regional, university, business, religious, and even personal archives. Some are well-funded and professionally managed, while others might be small and run by volunteers. Here are some searchable archives to consider.
Our resources are generally organized by resource type. Use your research questions to determine which types of information will be helpful.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries
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