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African American History

Direct comments to Elizabeth Dellavedova, edellavedova@nvcc.edu.

What Are Primary Sources?

Primary sources are documents or objects created by participants or witnesses at the time of an event.

Examples of primary sources:  diaries, interviews, autobiographies, government documents, speeches, photographs, and artifacts, such as pottery.

Online Sources for Primary Documents

Virginia

Books with Primary Documents

Use the Library Catalog.

Type in   primary sources   and   your topic.

Search for Primary Documents Online

In Google, search for "primary sources" and your topic.

 

You could also try  "primary documents" or "digital collection" or "digital library" in addition to "primary sources".

 

Search Tip:

Use words that would have been used during the time period you're researching.  For example, African American was not always used.  The language in documents in previous times may have included Negro or black.