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HIST 304: Civil War and the Making of America

Primary Sources

Primary sources are first-hand accounts, in a range of formats. Some examples include:

  • Memoirs, diaries, letters, interviews and other first-person accounts
  • Official publications, government documents, court reports and police records
  • Newspaper and magazine articles from the period under study
  • Paintings or photographs
  • Film and television programs
  • Print and television advertising
  • Music recordings

The format will vary from topic to topic. It may be a diary, correspondence, newspaper accounts, a painting, etc. from the period of study, as well as electronic, microfilm, and printed collections of these documents published at a later date.

Guide

For more information, check the Primary Sources guide.