McQuade LibGuides: General Reference: Primary Sources

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(978) 837-5177

Subjects: Current Events, First Year Writing, Orientation

What are Primary Sources?

A primary source is "an original fundamental and authoritative document pertaining to an event or subject of inquiry; a firsthand or eyewitness account of an event." ~ dictionary.com

Books in the Library

Documents of American Indian Diplomacy by Vine Deloria; Raymond J. DeMallie; Vine Deloria
Call Number: [REF] KF8202 1999
ISBN: 0806131187
Publication Date: 1999-12-15
Milestone documents of American leaders : exploring the primary sources of notable Americans
Call Number: [REF] E173 .M623 2009
ISBN: 097977585X
Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity
Call Number: [REF]HV6322.7 .E532 2005
ISBN: 0028658477
Publication Date: 2004-10-29
The Civil war : a history in documents
Call Number: E464 .S48 2000
ISBN: 0195115589
The American Revolution : a history in documents
Call Number: E203 .B95 2003
ISBN: 0195132246

Library Databases

Access to library databases is restricted to current student, faculty and staff ONLY.

Gale Ebooks This link opens in a new window
American Decades Primary Sources
Gender Issues and Sexuality: Essential Primary Sources
Terrorism: Essential Primary Sources
General Reference Center Gold, now in General OneFile - Gale This link opens in a new window
Includes diary entries, editorials, interviews, letters, memoirs, personal accounts, sermons, and transcripts. Under "Advanced Search" choose the appropriate "document type."

Lexis-Nexis Academic
Almanac of American Politics - Click on "Sources" tab. In the far right search box, type in quotation marks: "Almanac of American Politics" and click "Go". Select the book title and click the far right RED OK-Continue button to access the resource.

Websites

U.S. Dept of State - Office of the Historian
Historical government documents, key milestones, etc.
Foreign Relations of the United States
An incomplete run from 1861-1960 with missing volumes being added as they can be acquired and processed.
ArchiveGrid
Details over 7 million records from 1,400 repositories including archives, libraries, and historical societies. Great site for locating primary sources.
The Cambridge History of English and American Literature: An Encyclopedia in Eighteen Volumes
From Bartleby.com
Perseus Digital Library
A digital Library on Ancient Greece, Tufts University
Charters of Freedom
Includes: Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, Constitution of the United States
House of Representatives Historical Documents
From the Office of the Clerk
Senate Historical Office
National Archives and Records Administration