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HIS 3380: Workshop in Historical Methods: Primary Sources

So what are primary sources?

Primary sources are the raw materials of history — original documents and objects that were created at the time under study. They are different from secondary sources, accounts that retell, analyze, or interpret events, usually at a distance of time or place. (Library of Congress)

What types of primary sources are there?

Books, photographs, magazines, newspapers, diaries/journals, memoirs/autobiographies, letters, interviews, and speeches are just some of the formats you can find primary sources in.

Why use primary sources?

Primary sources allows exposure to varying perspectives on a topic. In analyzing primary sources, you move from concrete observations and facts to questioning and making inferences about the materials. Interacting with primary sources engages you in asking questions, evaluating information, making inferences, and developing reasoned explanations and interpretations of events and issues. (Library of Congress)

Newspapers


Shotput. Magnifier, Newspaper, photograph, 4272px X 2848px. Pixabay.

Local Resources

Online Resources

Below is a short list of state and local (Fort Worth & Dallas) periodicals located on the 2nd floor of the West Library. The list also includes date ranges available although the West Library may be missing issues within those date ranges. These periodicals cannot be checked out, but you can review them at the library:

  • Aura (Aura of Fort Worth, Aura of Dallas, Aura of Dallas Fort Worth): 1986-1995
  • D Magazine: 1974-1992
  • Dallas Business Journal: 1988-2002
  • Dallas/Fort Worth Business: 1977-1980
  • Dallas Fort Worth Home & Garden: 1978-1987
  • Fort Worth: 1951-1991
  • Texas Monthly (Bunker's Monthly): 1928-present
  • Texas Outlook: 1922-1985
  • Texas Observer: 1964-1996

"Getting Started with Primary Sources," Library of Congress, Library of Congress, 9.19.2023. https://www.loc.gov/programs/teachers/getting-started-with-primary-sources/.