Click each box to learn where you can find historical sources, in-person and online.
Libraries
Libraries are a great place to find both primary and secondary sources. And not just your school library. You can use the community library or maybe a local college library.
Here are some things you can find at the library.
• Primary sources like newspapers, year books, and famous diaries.
• Secondary sources like biographies, encyclopedias, books by history experts, and reference books.
• Computers with internet to access databases and other online sources.
• A librarian to help you.
Did you know?
You can ask a librarian a question from home – at any time of day or night. Go to the Ask Us Now! website for the help you need.
Archives have paper documents like letters, legal records, government documents and newspapers.
The National Archives is like the filing cabinet of the United States. The Archives have documents produced by the United States government like military records, presidential statements, historical photographs, and reports from government agencies.
Did you know? You can find many primary source documents on the DocsTeach website from the National Archives.
Museums and historical societies often house historic objects, documents, personal items, and collections from local families. They also have great websites for research.
Did you know? A shawl that Harriet Tubman wore in 1897 is in the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
The Library of Congress has all kinds of artifacts from American history, including historical photographs, maps, posters, sheet music, baseball card collections, and more.
Did you know?
The search box on the Library of Congress website lets you look for specific types of documents, such as images, films, or audio recordings.
Newspaper articles from the time of the event you are studying are considered primary sources. Chronicling America lets you search local and national American newspapers.
Did you know?
Chronicling America lets you focus your newspaper search by state and year.
World Digital Library is a branch of the Library of Congress website. It has different types of primary source material from libraries around the world.
Did you know?
The World Digital Library website is a great place to start a world history project.
The National Archives, Library of Congress, and World Digital Library websites are great, but there are many more. University websites are also good places to look, and you can also check educational sites like PBS Learning Media.
Did you know?
College and university websites are great places to search for primary sources. Make sure the website link ends with .edu. This means that it is a reliable website.
>University of Maryland Libraries: Research Using Primary Sources