Identify your research topic. Start by identifying the topic you want to research. For example, you might be interested in learning about the American Civil War.
Determine what primary sources exist. Think about the types of sources that might exist related to your topic. For example, for the Civil War, primary sources might include letters, diaries, photographs, and newspaper articles from the time period.
Look for collections of primary sources. Many libraries and archives have collections of primary sources that are available for research. You can start by searching online for “primary source collections” or “digital archives” related to your topic. Some good places to start include the Library of Congress, National Archives, and Digital Public Library of America.
Search for primary sources in online databases. Many databases, such as JSTOR and Project MUSE, include primary sources as well as scholarly articles. You can search these databases using keywords related to your research topic and limit your search results to primary sources.
Check for primary sources in bibliographies. Look for primary sources cited in the bibliographies of scholarly articles or books related to your topic. This can lead you to other primary sources you might not have discovered otherwise.
By following these steps, you can find primary sources related to your research topic. Remember to critically evaluate each source to ensure it is reliable and relevant to your research question.