LibGuides: US History: Primary Sources

Finding the best primary sources for your research topic can be challenging! To start, it's helpful to review the different types of primary sources, and search using your historical person and 1-2 keywords related to your topic. As you scan your results list, pay attention to which type of primary source each result is, and which types/s are most helpful in answering your research question:

broadcast transcripts
cartoons
correspondence/letters
diaries
flyers/posters/pamphlets
interviews
music recordings and lyrics
newspaper articles and editorials
organizations' official documents, like reports
photos
personal narratives by or about your subject
speeches

Databases Containing Primary Sources

U.S. History in Context (Gale) This link opens in a new window
Use the categories at the top of your search results page to choose only primary sources. Remember that not every document classified as a primary source is the right one for your topic.
Biography in Context (Gale) This link opens in a new window
World History in Context (Gale) This link opens in a new window
Women and Social Movements in the United States, 1600-2000 This link opens in a new window
This database contains a combination of primary and secondary sources. Use Advanced Search to limit to primary sources.

Historical Newspapers

From Our Databases

All NewsBank This link opens in a new window
Use this link to access Black Life in America, Hispanic Life in America, and Asian Life in America.
America's Historical Newspapers (NewsBank), 1690-2000 This link opens in a new window
Newspaper articles organized by significant periods in American history, from hundreds of U.S. newspapers, providing primary source content.
Newspapers.com (ON CAMPUS access ONLY) This link opens in a new window
Newspapers.com is only accessible via the SH campus network; it is not accessible from off campus. It contains both current and historic newspapers, from 1854-2021.
New York Times, Historical, 1851-2018 (with Index) This link opens in a new window
This is the archive of all issues of The New York TImes from 1851 through 2018.

From the Web

Primary Source Web Sites

Digital Public Library of America
DPLA is a database that provides free access to "millions of materials from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions across the country... in a one-stop discovery experience"
Library of Congress (archival database)
National Archives: American History
National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) Collection, Library of Congress
(NAWSA) Collection is a library of nearly 800 books and pamphlets documenting the suffrage campaign that were collected between 1890 and 1938 by members of NAWSA

Citations: NoodleTools

Noodletools

Off-Campus Access

Off-Campus Database Access Information
This document contains login information for accessing library databases off-campus.

Questions?

If you have questions while you are researching, please drop by the library or email Ms. Chatterjee (schatterjee@shschools.org) or Ms. Li (sli@shschools.org).