A primary source can mean different things depending on the discipline or how one uses the source. However, usually a primary source is the direct, first-hand account or object being studied. Examples include:
In contrast, a secondary source would be something that interprets, analyses, or comments on primary sources. Examples include:
Primary sources are often collected together and published in book format. In the library's Advanced Search, try combining your topic keywords with one of these terms:
For example: LGBT AND letters
Tip: Use quotation marks to search for a phrase (ex. "gender queer"). Use a question mark to truncate a term to search for words with the same stem (ex. Biograph? retrieves Biography, Biographies, Biographical, etc.).
To learn more search tricks, go to Search Strategies.
The following databases may provide some primary sources. Use keywords to search for your topic.