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Race, Gender and Social Justice: Primary Sources

What is a primary source?

Primary sources are original materials or artifacts created during the time period under study. Different disciplines may have varied defintions of primary sources.

To find primary sources in the Cheng Library Online Catalog, consider using the following terms in combination with your topic

  • Letters or correspondence
  • Personal Narratives
  • Documents or documentary
  • Interviews
  • Diaries
  • Autobiography

Many archives and special collections offer online access to selected primary sources. Other types of primary sources include news articles from a specific time period, journal articles presenting original research, recordings.

Other Research Guides

Selected Documents

News Sources

Newspaper accounts from a specific period can often provide valuable insights into historical events. The New York Times for example began publication in 1851. Depending on the event you are researching, a combination of online, print and mciroform may be necessary. For more recent events, a variety of online sources are available.

American Memory from the Library of Congress

The American Memory Project includes phots, recordings. manuscripts and other resources. Collections include African American History, Immigration/American Expansion, Native American History, and Women's History.