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How to: Work With Primary Sources

Starting points for learning about and using primary sources at College of the Holy Cross.

Primary Sources on the Web

You can find many primary sources freely available online. In fact, some of the best collections of primary sources can be found in the digital collections of institutions, archives, and research libraries around the nation and the world.

The Library of Congress (www.loc.gov) and the National Archives (www.nara.gov) usually make good starting places -- here are a few more you may wish to explore: 

Periodicals - Newspapers, Magazines & More

Government & Legal Documents - U.S. & Foreign

Images

Advertising, Propaganda & More

Books

Other Primary Documents - U.S. 

Other Primary Documents - Outside the U.S.