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Finding Primary Sources in the Library’s Databases (PDF)

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Research Databases with Primary Sources

The library does not have an entire database devoted to primary sources, but several of our databases contain primary sources. These databases are listed below, along with how to limit your results in that database to show only primary sources.

In some disciplines, the term "primary source" can also refer to any original research, which can be found in all of our research databases.

Note the "Start Here" box on the left to help you learn how to find primary sources in each of these databases.

Academic Search Ultimate This link opens in a new window
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Select "primary source document" in the "publication type" box.
Alexander Street: Academic Video Online‎ This link opens in a new window A large multidisciplinary collection of streaming videos. Includes documentaries, interviews, performances, news programs and newsreels, field recordings, commercials, raw footage, award-winning films, including Academy® and Emmy® winners, newly released films, and archival material previously unavailable.
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America: History & Life This link opens in a new window
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Use the "document type" box to limit to certain types of primary sources. Covers US and Canada from prehistory to present.
Britannica Academic This link opens in a new window
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After searching, click on the left-side tab: eBooks and Primary Sources.
Films On Demand This link opens in a new window Full-length streaming videos in the humanities, social sciences, business, health, medicine, sciences, and mathematics fields.
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Historical Abstracts with Full Text This link opens in a new window
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Use the "document type" box to limit to certain types of primary sources. Covers the history of the world (excluding US and Canada) from the 15th century to present.
Homeland Security Digital Library This link opens in a new window Full access to over 207,000 resources related to homeland security policy, strategy, and organizational management from a wide variety of sources including federal, state and local governments; international governments and institutions; and nonprofit organizations and private entities.
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ImageQuest (Britannica) This link opens in a new window Nearly 3 million rights-cleared images from more than 50 collections including Getty Images, the National Portrait Gallery of London, and the National Geographic Society.
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Industry Documents Library This link opens in a new window A portal to millions of documents created by industries that influence public health (tobacco, opioids, drug, chemical, food, and fossil fuel).
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JSTOR This link opens in a new window
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After executing a search, use the Refine Results column on the left to limit to Primary Source Content.
Literature Resource Center (Gale) This link opens in a new window
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On the Advanced Search screen, choose Primary Sources & Literary works from the More Options section.
Military & Government Collection This link opens in a new window
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Select "primary source document" in the "publication type" box.
Nexis Uni This link opens in a new window Formerly LexisNexis Academic, Nexis Uni "features more than 15,000 news, business and legal sources including U.S. Supreme Court decisions dating back to 1790."
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OneSearch: Search most of our databases at once This link opens in a new window
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After entering your search term, click on "Show More" under "Source Types" on the left side. You will see "Primary Source Documents" as an option.
ProQuest Central This link opens in a new window Search ALL ProQuest databases at once. Covering more than 160 subject areas, ProQuest Central is the largest aggregated database and contains a diversified mix of content including scholarly journals, trade publications, magazines, books, newspapers, reports and videos. Encompasses business, science & technology, health, social sciences, arts & humanities, and news.
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Slavery in America and the World: History, Culture & Law This link opens in a new window Free resource that brings together a multitude of essential legal materials on slavery in the United States and the English-speaking world. This includes every statute passed by every colony and state on slavery, every federal statute dealing with slavery, and all reported state and federal cases on slavery. Includes hundreds of pamphlets and books written about slavery—defending it, attacking it or simply analyzing it. In addition, includes every English-language legal commentary on slavery published before 1920, which includes many essays and articles in obscure, hard-to-find journals in the United States and elsewhere.
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Journals and eBooks in the library

Vital Speeches of the Day
Text of speeches on wide range of political topics.
Vital Speeches International
Presents speeches by the most influential leaders from around the world
50 Speeches That Made the Modern World
Influential speeches from the 20th and 21st centuries.

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