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Historical Primary Sources: Basic Indexes and Collections of Primary Sources

Thinking About Primary Sources

There are many ways to go looking for primary source material. The libraries' catalog (as other catalogs, including Worldcat) will list publications that were printed as books or separate publications. Magazines and Newspapers require either one of the indexes below or actually looking through the publication. To learn how to search the catalog(s) for primary sources see th   section in this guide. Below you will find:

  • Indexes to printed primary sources, like magazines, newspapers and journals. These indexes do not contain the digital sources. To find the actual source, in old fashioned print, you will need to use the libraries' catalog.
  • Access to full text collections, books, journals, magazines, and newspapers. Most of these collections have no subject access, but you are searching through the full text of the source/document. Remember to use language that reflects the ideas and usage of the times.

Indexes to Periodicals

Full Text Digital Periodical Collections

Indexes To Newspapers and Newspaper Archives

Newspaper Indexing Without Full Text

Newspaper Web Archives

Full Text Documents and Manuscripts Collections

Indexes and Databases for Books and Other Sources (not journals)