Camas High School Library Information Center

Primary Sources Pathfinder
A primary source in history is any document or material that was recorded during the time of the event or subject matter you are researching.
A primary resource could be a periodical or newspaper article; letters, diaries, autobiographies or other personal papers; government or public documents, papers; oral histories or interviews; and even cartoons.

Recommended Web Sites
Recommended Print Resources
Available in the CHS Library

AMDOCS - Documents for the study of American history
Documents in American history from 15th century to present
American Colonists' Library
Documents pertaining to early American history
American Experience
PBS site - browse or search

American Memory: Historical Collections for the National Digital Library
One of the best primary source sites on the Web
Atomic Bomb: Decision
Documents on the decision to use atomic bombs in Japan
The Avalon Project at Yale Law School
Documents in law, history, and diplomacy - pre-18th century to present
Civil War Women
Diaries, letters, documents, photographs & prints
Documenting the American South
From the Univ. of North Carolina - Southern history, literature and culture from the colonial period throug the first decade of the 20th century
Documents Relating to American Foreign Policy - The Cold War
Extensive list of documents on the Cold War
Eyewitness to History
History through the eyes of those who lived it
Famous Trials
Descriptions of over 30 famous trials, including Sacco & Vanzetti, the Rosenbergs, Leopold & Loeb, Triangle Factory Shirtwaist Fire, Scopes "Monkey" trial, Salem witchcraft trial, My Lai, Boston Massacre, Chicago "Black" Sox
Harper's Weekly Political Cartoons
Cartoons depicting images of American culture in the 1980's
HarpWeek - Political Prints
American political prints, 1766-1876
HarpWeek - Presidents
Political cartoons of the Presidential elections 1860-1912
Historycentral.com
Source documents in U.S. History
Library Research Using Primary Sources
Primary sources on the web compiled by the Univ. of California Berkeley Library
NARA - U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
The nation's first recordkeeper collects evidence that documents the rights of American citizens, the actions of Federal officials, and the national experience
NARA - Digital Classroom
Home page of the National Archives educational section
National Baseball Hall of Fame
Primary sources on baseball and WWII, Jackie Robinson, the Negro Leagues, and women in baseball
On-Line Archival Collections - Women
From Duke University - collections on African American women, Civil War women, and the Women's Liberation Movement
Political Cartoons and Cartoonists
Links to a variety of political cartoons in U.S. history
Primary Source Digital Archives and Collections
Links provided by the Chico (CA) High School Library
Primary Sources on the Web
Links to primary source sites on American and world history
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano - Cartoon Archives
Collections of cartoons on Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Roosevelt, Theodore - A Life in Cartoons
Wide variety of cartoons on Teddy Roosevelt
Spy letters of the American Revolution
From the University of Michigan - letters, stories, methods and more of spies during the American Revolution
The Triangle Factory Fire
Extensive information and documents on this tragic incident
United States Historical Census Data Browser
Data describing the peopld and economy of each state and couty from 1790 to 1960
Warwick Public Library (Rhode Island) Historical Primary Sources
Links to various primary resources sites
World War II Poster Collection
A collection of over 300 posters from Northwestern University

Search Strategy:
In Alexandria, use keywords primary and source

Annals of America - REF 973 ANN
speeches, letters, songs, photographs
Twentieth Century America - REF 973.921 TWE
Associated Press stories from the 20th century