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U.S. History: Primary Sources

More on History

About Primary Sources

Primary sources are original documents, images, and artifacts created at the time of an event. They are first-hand records by people who participated in or experienced the event. Primary sources exist in many format and content types including:

  • Interviews
  • Newspapers
  • Photographs
  • Autobiographies
  • Film and audio recordings
  • Letters and diaries
  • Manuscripts
  • Social media posts

Digitized Primary Sources

Historical Newspapers and Periodicals

Microforms

If a newspaper is not available digitally, it may be on microform.

  • Some may have an index, which allows you to search by subject. Without an index, you can only search microforms by date. Find indexes in Library Search or WorldCat.
  • Microform readers are located in Fondren, Bridwell, and Underwood Libraries.
  • Use WorldCat to discover and request titles held by other libraries.