Yale University Library Primary Sources Research Colloquium: “A primary source is firsthand testimony or direct evidence concerning a topic under investigation. The nature and value of the source cannot be determined without reference to the topic and questions it is meant to answer. The same document or other piece of evidence may be a primary source in one investigation and secondary in another. The search for primary sources does not, therefore, automatically include or exclude any category of records or documents.”
Craver, K. Using Internet Primary Sources to Teach Critical Thinking Skills In History. D 16.2 .C79 1999, p. 15.
This research guide lists major collections of primary sources. Some are freely available on the web and some are proprietary where the CSUS Library subscribes or has purchased them for current, student, faculty, and staff use. It is impossible to make a comprehensive list. One should still consult ONESEARCH when searching for primary sources because of their diversity.
