A primary source is a record or artifact from a given era that provides original documentary evidence of the time—like a snapshot of an experience, taken by someone who was there.
The video below, "What are Primary Sources?" from the University of Guelph Library, offers a quick overview.
This guide highlights digital collections. For tips and resources on finding non-digital primary source collections, visit the Primary Sources Research Guide.
The video below, "Finding Primary Sources: Background Research" from the University of Guelph Library, can help you connect what you already know about your topic to your search.