Researching the American Revolutionary Era

Using the UW Libraries Catalog to Find Primary Sources in US History

The UW Libraries has a strong collection of published primary sources dealing with American history. These include books written during the period, books written by participants (e.g. Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography), published collections of correspondence and other personal writings, memoirs, and reprints of collections of primary source material. Most books are printed, some are microfilmed, and a few are available full-text online.

Searching the UW Libraries Catalog for Primary Sources

http://catalog.lib.washington.edu/search~/

Use the following strategies in the UW Libraries Catalog to find books that can be considered primary sources:

Terms that designate primary sources:

  • sources
  • personal narratives
  • diaries
  • journals
  • correspondence
  • letters
  • interviews
  • church records and registers
  • early works to 1800
  • wills
  • probate records
  • sermons

Example keyword searches:

  • states rights and sources
  • women and suffrage and letters
  • boston and (probate records or wills)
  • Burr and (diaries or personal narratives)
  • etiquette and early works to 1800
  • civil rights and interviews

Adapted from web site by UW Seattle librarian Theresa Mudrock
http://www.lib.washington.edu/subject/history/book.html