Primary sources provide first-hand testimony or direct evidence on a subject. They are created by someone who experienced the period or event first hand. Because they are eye-witness accounts, many primary sources are created at the time the event occured, but recorded memories -- such as autobiographies, memories, and oral histories -- are also considered primary sources.
For more examples see What are Primary Sources (Yale University)
Do a subject search using the subject headings below to find primary sources in the Peninsula Library System Catalog.
These are examples of some of the books we have that collect primary sources.
The American Revolution by 
Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America by 
Great Documents in American Indian History
Lands of Promise and Despair by Google Books has the full-text of books published before 1923 (the cut-off date for copyright). Follow these steps to find these potential primary resources.
The Library of Congress has thousands of primary sources on American history. Search by keyword and limit your search by date.
Curated by Forham University, A collection of primary sources from Colonial North American and South America. Search by keyword or browse by subject.
Internet History Sourcebook: Colonial North America
To find primary sources go to "Advanced Search" and do a subject search for "sources" along with your keywords on another line.
Example:
