“Primary sources provide first-hand testimony or direct evidence concerning a topic under investigation. They are
created by witnesses or recorders who experienced the events or conditions being documented. Often these sources
are created at the time when the events of conditions are occurring, but primary sources can also include
autobiographies, memoirs, and oral histories recorded later.” (Yale University Collections pagehttp://www.yale.edu/collections_collaborative/primarysources/primarysources.html)
Examples of primary sources include maps, journals, brochures, government documents, newspaper articles, oral
histories or objects created or used during a specific event (An astronaut’s uniform from the first space flight.)
American Sources
http://www.freenewspaperarchives.us/ This site gives you access to 250 years of American Newspapers. The papers
are broken down by geographical location (Northeast, South, etc.) or by theme (Slavery abolition, WWII, Rural living,
Jewish-American life.)
http://www.loc.gov/index.html This is the address for the Library of Congress site. It gives access to American
newspapers from 1690 until present day. The site also has sound recordings, photographs, maps and videos.
http://docsouth.unc.edu/ This site contains documents relating to the American South. It is sponsored by the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
http://www.americanindian.si.edu/searchcollections/peoplescultures.aspx This is a link to the Smithsonian’s online
collection of Native American Artifacts.
http://www.si.edu/Exhibitions/Search/Virtual This is the landing page for all of the online exhibits from the Smithsonian.
British Sources
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/ This site is sponsored by the University of London. It contains primary and secondary
sources for the British Isles from the 11th through 19th centuries.
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/search The London Gazette website contains British newspapers from 1665 until
current day.
European Sources
http://eudocs.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Main_Page This site has many links to European primary sources. It is sponsored
by Brigham Young University.
Paleolithic Sources
http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/arcnat/chauvet/en/ This site gives you a virtual tour of the cave paintings of
Chauvet-Pont-D’Arc.
http://www.lascaux.culture.fr/site_map.php?lng=en This site gives you a virtual tour of the cave paintings of Lascaux.
World Resources
http://chnm.gmu.edu/worldhistorysources/whmfinding.php This is a page that has many links to primary sources from
around the world.
http://library.csusm.edu/subject_guides/history/online_primary.asp This is a page sponsored by California State
University it contains many links to primary sources from around the world.
Name______________________________________
1) Think about your Historical Fiction book. Is there as certain part that stands out? Did it bother you? Did you
think it was interesting? Was there an item that the author was describing that intrigued you? Did the
character do something that seemed like it would be fun? Briefly describe the scene that you are thinking
about.
2)
Using the description above, write a question that you would like to answer about your book here.
3) Make a list of possible words or phrases that could help you answer your question.
4) What types of primary sources (At least 3) could help you answer your question?
5) View a newspaper from your time-period & location.
6) Update your key words if necessary.
7) Do your research! Searching for and working with primary sources is like a scavenger hunt. You will have to
look many places until you find your prize-the perfect primary source! Do not be frustrated if the answers
are not “Right there” when you set out to do your research. You may have to search many databases,
websites or newspaper articles until you find the information you need. THIS IS COMPLETELY NORMAL.