Primary Sources for Students

What are primary sources, why do we need them, and where can they be found? Broadly, a primary source contains firsthand information on a subject, event, or phenomenon. Examples include diaries or letters, but also statistical information, posters, and even lab notebooks. Primary sources are the building blocks without which original research could not be conducted. In this workshop we discussed how different fields identify and find primary sources and how primary sources contribute to research. Presented by librarians Alyssa Kowis and Eric Buckenmeyer on January 25, 2023.