Skip to Main ContentCaldwell University Jennings Library Banner

HI 218: The Holocaust

What is a Primary Source?

Primary sources are first-hand accounts of a topic from people who had a direct connection with it. These can include: 

  • Laws and other original documents
  • Newspaper articles 
  • Speeches
  • Diaries
  • Letters
  • Interviews
  • Survey data such as census and economic statistics
  • Original research
  • Photographs and videos

Source: Primary Sources: A Research Guide (Healey Library, UMass Boston)

Where to Find Primary Sources

Databases

Primary source websites