Find primary sources

Primary sources can be found in libraries, archives, and private collections throughout the world. Sometimes they are in paper, sometimes in microformat, and sometimes - more recently - in digital format. Try the following starting points when looking for primary sources:

DiscoverE: Searches print and electronic books, audio-visual materials, sound recordings, and databases provided by the Emory libraries and their many special collections. While DiscoverE doesn't allow you to search on "primary sources" as a subject or facet term, it does provide other enhanced search features and helpful suggestions on how to refine and focus your searches for manuscript materials. Limiting you search to "archives" in the resource type facet will retrieve records with an "archive" designation.  

EUCLID: Lists more than 2 million books, journals, electronic resources, and rare book and manuscript collections owned by the Emory libraries. EUCLID features Reserves Direct, supporting both electronic and paper materials used for course reserves, and also links to other research databases, eJournals, and interlibrary loan services offered by the Emory libraries. These resources are available to current Emory affiliates.

To search for many primary sources held at Emory, choose EUCLID's COMPLEX SEARCH option and limit the format to MANUSCRIPTS.

Worldcat: This global catalog of more than 1 billion items contains descriptions of books, archives, manuscript collections, digital and audio-visual materials in libraries and other repositories around the world. Using Worldcat's ADVANCED SEARCH option you can limit your search by format, date, publication location, and many other parameters.

Other Finding Aid Web Sites

As more and more primary sources are being digitized, more and more collection guides and finding aids can be found on the Internet. Some of these web sites are available only through a personal or institutional subscription, while others are freely available. The following web sites are recommended as good starting points when searching for primary sources:

EmoryFindingAids Database: Browse or search online finding aids for most of the collections available in Emory's Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library.

Archive Finder: A current directory of more than 200,000 primary source collections housed in thousands of repositories in the US, UK, and Ireland.

Archive Grid: Contains more than a million collection descriptions for primary materials housed in the US, UK, and Ireland.

Library of Congress American Memory Project: Browse a record of written and spoken words, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience. This digital record of American history and creativity comes from the collections of the Library of Congress and many other institutions, and chronicle historical events, people, places, and ideas that continue to shape America.