Q. How do I find primary sources?

Before you start searching for primary sources, it is important to understand what a primary source is. Please read through What are primary sources? for an explanation if you're not sure what they are.

The primary sources that might be useful to you depend on your research question, so take some time to consider what sources you need. Common types include, but aren't limited to:

• Interview transcripts
• Diaries
• Letters
• News Footage
• Speeches
• Original creative works (poems, stories, novels, plays, etc.)

Once you have determined what you need, try searching the library using terms that refer to that type of source. For example, if you are writing a paper on Barack Obama, you might search with the keywords 'Barack Obama interview'. 

If you are looking for original creative works to study, like Margaret Atwood's novels, it can be useful to search by author. This will make sure that you find works created by the author, as opposed to works that are about the author but written by someone else.

Can't find anything? Authors of secondary sources often cite primary sources. You can follow their citations to find primary sources about your person or topic.