What are Primary Sources?
Primary sources are records that provide firsthand accounts or evidence of historical events or experiences. You might also find primary source material reproduced within a secondary source, such as a published biography or documentary history book.
Types of primary sources can include:
Books 
Photographs and images 
Magazine and Newspaper Articles
Letters 
Advertisements and Cartoons 
Memoirs and Autobiographies
Interviews 
Diaries and Journals 
Research Data and Statistics
Movies/Videos 
Audio recordings 
Speeches and Public Opinion Polls
Primary Sources quiz
Check your knowledge by completing the activity below on primary and secondary sources
Databases with Primary Source Material
- Nineteenth Century Collections Online: British Politics and SocietyIncludes historical primary sources relating to the social and political climate in Great Britain during the nineteenth century, covering such topics as British domestic and foreign policy, the working class, trade unions, Chartism, Owenism, public protest, radical movements, the cartographic record, political reform, education, family relationships, religion, and leisure.
- Nineteenth Century Collections Online: Asia and the West: Diplomacy and Cultural Exchange ArchiveNineteenth Century Collections Online: Asia and the West: Diplomacy and Cultural Exchange features a range of primary source collections related to international relations between Asian countries and the West during the 19th century. These documents include government reports, diplomatic correspondence, periodicals, newspapers, treaties, trade agreements, NGO papers, and more, offering a detailed look at the inner workings of international relations.
- Empire OnlineEmpire Online is an exciting collection of original documents relating to Empire Studies, sourced from libraries and archives around the world.
- Early Experiences in Australasia: Primary Sources and Personal Narratives 1788-1901Early Experiences in Australasia: Primary Sources and Personal Narratives 1788-1901 provides a unique and personal view of events in the region from the arrival of the first settlers through to Australian Federation at the close of the nineteenth century. Through first-person accounts, including letters and diaries, narratives, and other primary source materials, we are able to hear the voices of the time and understand the experiences of those who took the great challenge in new lands.
- Women and Social Movements InternationalWomen and Social Movements, International is a collection of primary materials including writings of women activists, their personal letters and diaries, and the proceedings of conferences at which pivotal decisions were made.
- Testaments to the Holocaust: Documents and Rare Printed Materials from the Wiener Library, LondonTestaments to the Holocaust is the online publication of the archives of the Wiener Library, London, the first archive to collect evidence of the Holocaust and the anti-Semitic activities of the German Nazi Party.
- Gale Primary SourcesGale Primary Sources is an integrated research environment that allows users to search across Gale primary source collections.
Historical newspapers and media
- Trove Digitised NewspapersTrove Digitised Newspapers is a free online service from the National Library of Australia that enables full-text searching of newspaper articles. The service includes newspapers published in each state and territory from the 1800s to the mid-1950s, when copyright applies. The first Australian newspaper, published in Sydney in 1803, is included in the service. Newly digitised articles are added daily.
- The AgeLatest local news on Melbourne and Victoria, plus national news from Australia and around the world. Access is available for the last 6 months of newspapers.
Held in microfilm at the ADPML library
Held in microfilm at the ADPML library
- Illustrated London News Historical Archive 1842-2003When first launched in 1842, the Illustrated London News marked a revolution in journalism and news reporting. It provided a visual tour of the triumphs, tragedies, daily life and monumental events of the world and the modern British empire. The Illustrated London News Historical Archive, 18422003 is an asset to students and researchers of subjects including social history, fashion, theatre, media, literature, advertising, graphic design and politics, as well as the general public, particularly those interested in genealogy.
- ProQuest Historical Newspapers : The Guardian and The ObserverProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Guardian and The Observer provides content from The Guardian from 1821 until 2003 and the Observer from 1791 until 2003.
- Nineteenth Century UK Periodicals19th Century UK Periodicals provides an in-depth view of British life in the Victorian age through a collection of British magazines, journals and specialty newspapers.
- ProQuest Historical Newspapers : Times of IndiaProquest Historical Newspapers : The Times of India provides content from the The Times of India from 1838 until 2010.
- ProQuest Historical Newspapers : The New York Times with IndexProQuest Historical Newspapers : The New York Times provides content from The New York Times from 1851 until 2018 and indexes from 1851 until 1993.
- ProQuest Historical Newspapers : The Jewish AdvocateProquest Historical Newspapers : The Jewish Advocate provides content from The Jewish Advocate from 1905 until 1990.
- ProQuest Historical Newspapers : The Jewish ExponentProquest Historical Newspapers : The Jewish Exponent provides content from The Jewish Exponent from 1887 until 1990.
- ProQuest Historical Newspapers : Los Angeles TimesProquest Historical Newspapers : Los Angeles Times provides content from the Los Angeles Times from 1881 until 1997
- ProQuest Historical Newspapers : Chicago TribuneProquest Historical Newspapers : Chicago Tribune provides content from the Chicago Tribune from 1849 until 1998.
Institution web resources
Trove - a great resource for finding books, images, historic newspapers, maps, music, archives and more.
Australian War Memorial - combines a shrine, a world-class museum, and an extensive archive
National Archives of Australia - preserves Australia’s most valuable government records and promotes good records management by Australian Government agencies.
State Library of Victoria - Victoria's largest public reference library.
The Museum of Australian Democracy - presents 110 key documents that are the foundation of our nation.
State Library of New South Wales - internationally renowned and one of Australia’s leading libraries.
Public Record Office Victoria - holds the archives of the State Government of Victoria.