Finding and making sense of primary sources

Photograph shows Harriet Tubman (1822-1913) at midlife. She is seated, turned toward the left. One hand rests on the back of a wooden chair, another rests in her lap. — Portrait of Harriet Tubman by Benjamin Powelson, circa 1868. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Where to find primary sources

Library of Congress Digital Collections
Digital Public Library of America
The National Archives
Albertsons Library’s guide to primary sources, especially these sections:
- United States
- U.S. West (includes indigenous history)
- Women’s history
- Idaho history
- Newspapers

Reading aids

Primary source worksheets from the National Archives—scroll to the bottom and select from the list at lower right. These can help you make sense of photos, artwork, artifacts, documents, etc.

Dr. Madsen’s primary source document worksheet (Word doc)