Locating Primary Sources for Historical Writing

In history, primary sources come in many forms, from written documents to audiovisual recordings and even physical artifacts. Students can locate various types of primary sources through colleges, universities, libraries, archives, and museums. Listed below are a few of the most common ways to track down primary sources for historical research.*

Ask a Reference Librarian

Reference librarians are experienced researchers who can guide students to relevant tools and resources that make finding primary sources about a topic easier. These librarians also create research guides that recommend online databases or other repositories for researching history. At Del Mar College (DMC), reference librarians are available to support you with your studies. More information can be found on the DMC Libraries’ website at https://delmar.edu/library.

Search Online Repositories

On the DMC Libraries’ website, it is possible to sort online databases by subject. The Social Sciences category lists some online databases and repositories the College recommends for historical research. Outside of the College’s recommendations, you can also search for other credible online repositories. Many of the best places to find primary sources are through online special collections, archives, and museums. Keep in mind that not all of a repository’s items will be available online.

Search the Library Catalog

Depending on a library’s collection, students may be able to find primary sources through its online catalog. The DMC Libraries’ collections contain films, audiovisual recordings, and anthologies of literary works or other primary documents. When using the DMC Libraries’ Catalog to find primary sources, limit the search by item type and category for better results (e.g., maps, newspaper, or audiovisual).

Check Bibliographies of Secondary Sources

A useful place to start historical research is by looking through the bibliography of secondary sources. Historians list the primary and secondary sources used in their research. Students can track down another historian’s primary sources and see if they suit the topic. Again, it is important to note that some of these primary sources may not be available online and may only be viewed in person at a museum or archive. Students should use the primary sources accessible to them for their assignment.

*Note: Always consult professors’ assignment instructions to see what they consider a primary source before researching.

Work Consulted

Turabian, Kate L. 2018. A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations. 9th ed. Chicago:

University of Chicago Press.