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Primary Sources: Home

Primary vs. Secondary Sources

A primary source is a document or physical object written/created during the moment in time you are interested in researching. A primary source provides information directly from the source (a book written by Adolf Hitler). A secondary source provides information indirectly (a historian's recounting of research done on Hitler).

American University gives an excellent guide to determine the differences between primary and secondary sources here.

Best Primary Source Databases for 18th Century And Older Sources

Best Primary Source Databases for 19th Century

Best Primary Source Databases for 20th Century Sources

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Today's Primary Source Find

Today's fun find in primary source land! This should change daily/weekly/monthly, depending upon that topic that the researcher is working in a the time.