A primary source is an item that was created during the period being studied and documents in some way what is being studied.
Examples of primary sources include:
If you're looking for historical primary sources, here are three strategies that are worth trying first:
1. Use OneSearch. The library has primary source materials available in print, online, and in microfilm, most of which can be discovered using OneSearch. If you're looking for a specific item, just do a basic search with the title in quotes (for example, “Diary of Anne Frank”).
If you are looking for primary sources on a certain topic, you're going to need to do an advanced search with subject headings:
On the first line, enter keyword(s) that describe your topic (in the image below, it's the Spanish Civil War).
On the second line, use the drop-down arrow next to the search box to choose Subject and select one of the subject headings in the list below that describe different kinds of primary sources. If there are multiple subject headings you want to use, put an OR between them (be sure to capitalize it). For example, you could search for "medieval" as a keyword and sources OR documents OR personal narratives as subject headings.
2. Search in Google Books - if your topic is pre-1923, there are likely a lot of primary sources available on your topic in the public domain. Google has digitized books from many of the world's major research libraries and is making all of the works in the public domain freely available in Google Books. You can search for a specific work or a general topic. The annoying thing about Google Books is that they also list resources that are only available to preview. If you use the Advanced Book Search, you can limit your search to full view only books.
3. Search in Library Databases: The Library has some major collections of primary source materials that might be useful to you. The SJSU Special Collections & Archives guide lists many databases available for specific subject areas.
These guides also provide subject-specific lists of primary source resources: