Skip to Main Content

Library Research

Primary Source Research Tips

Tips on finding and using primary sources

 

  • To ensure that your source is reliable stick to library databases, government sites, museums and archives to find sources. 

 

  • Be knowledgeable about your topic and know what terms were used for your topic during the time you are researching. 

 

  • Secondary sources can lead you right to a primary source since secondary sources often cite primary sources. 

 

  • Try googling a topic keyword + "papers" or "archive" as this can lead to helpful results. 

 

 

Primary Sources: What are they and how to use them