Q. I need primary sources for a paper. What are primary sources exactly, and how do I find them?

What it is:  A first-hand account. Remember, "first-hand" is about the proximity to what is being studied. Example:

... a 1950's textbook discussing the Civil War and Reconstruction would not be a primary source about the Civil War. However, it could be a primary source regarding attitudes towards African Americans during the Civil Rights Era.

How to find it: Find a research guide relevant to your subject, and depending on your project, course, and academic field, look for tabs labeled:

• Primary Sources
• Primary Texts
• Data
• Statistics
• Archives
• Government Documents