A primary source is an original source of information, written or created during the time period under study. Primary sources may include:
Contrast these with secondary sources, which interpret and analyze primary sources. Secondary sources are generally written after the fact.
Finding primary sources can be tricky. Here are some ways to search for them:
1. Search a primary source database.
2. Use library catalogs to find primary sources published in books.
3. Use the bibliographies of secondary sources.
4. Search for manuscript and archival materials.
5. Search an index (not full-text, but sometimes the best for the topic).
Interested in finding more primary sources that have been digitized? These are some resources that can help:
The Booth Family Center for Special Collections holds the library’s rare books, manuscripts, the University Archives, and the University Art Collection. Below are a few of their collections of interest. You can identify additional collections and finding aids by searching Digital Georgetown and consulting the Special Collections Descriptive Catalog. Use these search terms- in addition to your keywords- in order to identify published primary sources at the library:
These search terms are especially powerful if you place them in the "subject" field in the HoyaSearch advanced search option.
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