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Logan Library

History

What are Primary and Secondary Sources?

  • Primary source materials are first-hand, unfiltered items that document history, often created around the time an event occurred. These items can include letters, documents, memoirs, diaries, newspapers, ledgers, photographs, videos, and artifacts.

     

  • Secondary sources are interpretations, descriptions, and analyses of evidence provided by primary sources.  Secondary sources are published as books (sometimes called monographs), chapters in books, scholarly journal articles and dissertations.

From the Collections

Swingmasters Band 1944

The Swingmasters were a regular feature and popular student group at Schreiner Institute in the 1940s. The 1943 Recall yearbook says the Swingmasters; "played for all Schreiner dances, held at intervals of approximately two weeks throughout the year, and had a number of dates for off-campus groups. Although hampered by continuous changes in the personnel of the group because of the calls of armed services, these lovers of swing music were always able to produce a good program, and contributed much toward the entertainment of the student body."

Texas History - Primary Sources

US History - Primary Sources

American Memory Historical Collections from the Library of Congress A digital record of American history and creativity. Is a gateway to more than seven million digital items, mostly primary source materials. Includes:

  • A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation Comprises twelve different titles, covering the Continental Congress, the Constitutional Convention, and the 1st through 42nd Federal Congresses, as well as other materials

  • Primary Documents in American History Digital copies of the Federalist Papers, the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and others.

  • Frederick Douglas Papers  Papers of the nineteenth-century African-American abolitionist who escaped from slavery and then risked his own freedom by becoming an outspoken antislavery lecturer, writer, and publisher. The papers span the years 1841 to 1964, with the bulk of the material from 1862 to 1895.

Core Documents of U.S. Democracy Supplies American citizens direct access to basic federal government documents that define our democratic society, made available for free, permanent, public access via the GPO Access service.

Documenting the American South  A collection of sources on Southern history, literature, and culture from the colonial period through the first decades of the 20th century.

Social Explorer  Gain deep insights into any area of interest - down to a city block, with stunning visualizations and built-in data. Reinforce your decisions with reliable and accurate location data.

Political Cartoons and Presidential Elections, 1860-1912 Offers access to political cartoons found in Harper's Weekly and other leading journals concerning the presidential elections.

Chronicling America Historic American Newspapers Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1789-1922 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present.