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Course & Subject Guides

Finding Primary Sources @ Pitt

Learn to distinguish between primary and secondary sources; learn strategies for finding primary sources.

Evaluating Primary Source Text

See the tips given in "How to Read a Primary Source" in Patrick Rael, Reading, Writing, and Researching for History: A Guide for College Students (Brunswick, ME: Bowdoin College, 2004).

Evaluating Primary Source Surrogates

Archives, libraries, and museums continue to digitize and transcribe their collections of primary source materials and make them freely accessible online. Surrogates of original primary source materials may be considered equal substitutes for the originals; however, it is best to always evaluate a reproduction for credibility. For more information on determining the trustworthiness of primary source surrogates, see Lafayette College Library's Primary Sources: Evaluating.