HSS 544 - Vikings: Primary Sources

• Autobiographies
• Diaries/Journals
• Letters
• Speeches
• Travel Accounts
• Messages and Papers
• Government Documents
• Magazine/Newspaper Articles
• Manuscripts
• Photographs
• Other Non-Text Materials

You can find primary sources for this topic in three places:

1. Books:  Many of the books in the circulating collection and in Garver have primary sources in them. Look for words in the book's title like "a documentary history" or "sources." Also look for clues within the text like block quotes and distinct sections with a different author.  When searching for books in the online catalog, use the term "primary source" after your search term.  Also conduct a search without it, and see the difference in results.
2. Databases. Many of the databases you looked at in the Reference Sources tab have primary sources within them. Those with primary sources are relisted below. Try playing with search filters to make sure you are looking at primary sources in the search results.
3. Websites. Below are a few websites with primary sources. Make sure to note the difference between any introductory text and the primary source itself.

If you're not sure if you're looking at a primary source, just ask a librarian for help!