What is a primary source?

A primary source is a first-hand account of an event. Primary sources may include newspaper articles, letters, diaries, interviews, laws, papers of a society or organization, reports of government commissions, and many other types of documents.

Many primary documents are reproduced in our microform and digital collections. Search the online catalog.

Print Primary Sources

• Search the catalog using Subject Headings for your topic and words like "-diaries", "-personal narratives" (i.e. United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives)

• Use subject headings such as:
• Diaries--Abolistionists--South Carolina
  
• Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885)--Correspondence
  
• Autobiography--African American Authors
  

• Search by clicking here. (rice only) Or search the catalog
• Search for primary sources by format (newspapers, government documents)

Primary sources in many formats--letters, diaries, oral histories, photographs, etc.--are available in Fondren Library’s Woodson Research Center which is particularly rich for information on Houston and Texas.  While available to students, faculty, and outside researchers, these sources must be used in Woodson.