A primary source is a record of an event, an occurrence, or a time period produced by a participant or observer at the time. Typically, primary sources include:

• unique documents or manuscripts (letters, diaries, journals, writings, speeches, photographs, scrapbooks, etc.)
• historic records of an organization (correspondence, memoranda, minutes, annual reports, etc.).
• government documents & maps
• artwork & artifacts
• music & audiovisual materials (film, audio and video tape)
• electronic computer files

Primary sources are often found housed in archival collections. See the Collections at Smith tab of this guide.

They can also be found in published forms, such as newspapers, magazine articles, pamphlets and other printed materials produced during the time period under study. Often they have been digitized and are available online. See:

• Books & More (broadsides, pamphlets, government documents and ephmera)
• Magazines, Journals, Newspapers