LibGuides: Nathaniel P. Hill Library: Primary Sources

What are Primary Sources?

Primary sources can be found in library databases, in books and on the internet. Use the tabs and links below to search.

Definition: A primary source is a first hand account from someone or something that was there at the time of the event.
Examples: photograph, diary, speech, newspaper article, video footage, legal document, etc...

Locating Primary Sources

Each of these databases contain primary sources, but they must be sorted out from other types of sources. On your search results page, look for options to narrow your results by source type such as image, video, newspaper, or primary sources.

Academic Video Online: Premium
Provides online streaming access to over 64,000 academic videos across the disciplines from Alexander Street Press. No remote access available.
Access Science
Gateway to key scientific areas including biology, Earth & environmental sciences, chemistry & physics. Includes articles, images, videos, biographies, and more. For remote access , click on the database link, and then click on Sign In in the upper right corner. Enter the username and password found on the remote access document on the Student Portal.
EBSCO Discovery
EBSCO Discovery allows you to search all of the EBSCO databases at once encompassing a wide range of topics and source types. One stop shopping! Courtesy of OSL. For remote access, go to AskRI, select the database from the list, and then enter your Library Barcode from the back of your library card if prompted (14 digit number)
Global Issues in Context
Provides information about international issues. Includes news items, journal articles, maps and encyclopedic resources. Also contains Research Tools and Educator Resources. Updated daily. For remote access, enter the password found on the remote access document in the Student Portal into the SIGN IN box.
Historical New York Times
Date Coverage: 1851-2007. For remote access, click to enter the database, then scroll down to log in with your ProQuest account and enter the username and password found on the remote access document in the Student Portal.
History Center
Content Coverage: Decades, Great Lives from History, Great Events from History, Milestone Documents in World Religions. These resources focus both on United States history and World history topics. For remote access, enter the password found on the remote access document in the Student Portal.
History Reference Center
Offers the full text of history reference books, leading history periodicals, historical documents, and biographies of historical figures. Courtesy of OSL. For remote access, go to AskRI, select the database from the list, and then enter your Library Barcode from the back of your library card if prompted (14 digit number)
JSTOR
Offers archival and current journals, primary sources and books on the humanities, social sciences, and sciences. Extensive date coverage. Updated regularly. For remote access, choose Login in the upper right-hand corner and then username and password found on the remote access document in the Student Portal.
MasterFILE Premier
This multidisciplinary database provides full text for nearly 1,700 general reference publications with full text information. Also includes primary source documents, as well as an Image Collection of over 460,000 photos, maps & flags. Courtesy of OSL. Updated daily. Date Coverage: 1975 - present. For remote access, go to AskRI, select the database from the list, and then enter your Library Barcode from the back of your library card if prompted (14 digit number)
National Newspaper Core
Includes the full-text of current issues of The Christian Science Monitor, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. For remote access, scroll down to log in with your ProQuest account and enter the username and password found on the remote access document in the Student Portal.
Oxford Art Online
Access to the entire text of The Dictionary of Art , ed. Jane Turner (1996, 34 vols.) and The Oxford Companion to Western Art, ed. Hugh Brigstocke (2001). Contains images Updated continually. No remote access available.
ProQuest Research Library
Provides access to multidisciplinary subject coverage from scholarly, trade, and consumer publications, as well as full-text local, regional and national newspaper coverage (1985-present) and full-text historical New York Times back to 1851. For remote access, scroll down to log in with your ProQuest account and enter the username and password found on the remote access document in the Student Portal.

Library Catalog
Search the library catalog to locate books and movies at St. George's Library and other public libraries in RI. Use the location facet to limit results to only materials available at St. George's library.
Ebook Central
Search and access the full-text of over 140,000 academic ebooks from any computer. For remote access , enter through ProQuest Research Library.

How do I find primary sources in books?

Often books contain excerpts or entire transcripts of primary source materials. When searching the Library Catalog or Ebook Central, look for subject headings that use the terms "personal narratives" or "sources." These terms indicate there are primary sources located in a book.
For assistance finding the book on the shelf, click here, or ask a librarian.

Locating Primary Sources on the Web

Enter your search term in the box above along with the existing text "primary source" and click search to find posted documents.

Helpful websites include:

Nathaniel P. Hill Library

Ask a Librarian

Evaluate your sources

What are Primary Sources?

Locating Primary Sources