Archives
Guidelines for Working with Primary Sources
Primary Sources
Primary sources offer a firsthand account of events, from the perspective of participants or eyewitnesses. They can be found in a variety of formats, including the ones listed on this page.
Types of Primary Sources
Letter from Arthur Enyart to Alfred J. Hanna ‘17
Letters, Diaries, Interviews, and Autobiographies
Items documenting personal experiences, such as correspondence, journals, and memoirs.
The Rollins Bugler, 1937
Audiovisual Materials
Photographs, films, music, and art works connected to historic events, as well as maps and blueprints.
The First Rollins College Catalogue, 1885
Official Publications and Government Documents
Original records of an institution or organization, and publications produced by the U.S. Government.
Rollins Freshman Beanie, 1960
Artifacts and Memorabilia
Artifacts and Memorabilia including historic items, such as clothing, awards, and everyday objects. These include ephemera (items such as greeting cards, tickets, etc...that were originally created for short-term use).
Examining Primary Sources
The following considerations may be useful when examining primary sources:
Origins
- Who created this material?
- When was it created?
- What was its purpose?
- Who was the intended audience?
Historical Context
- Which historical events were taking place during at the time this item was created?
- How did historical events influence the creation of this item?
Content
- What ideas are being conveyed?
- How are these ideas being conveyed?
- How reliable is the creator? Is there evidence of bias?
Finding Primary Sources
Artifacts and Print Materials
Historic items from the Rollins Archives are a rich source of primary documents, including correspondence, official publications, government documents, photos, maps, blueprints, and more. Archival collections are searchable online in the Archival Collections Database.
Digital Materials
Digitized Archival holdings, including maps and photographs, may be explored online Rollins Digital Collections.
Olin Library also provides access to databases containing primary source documents, such as the following:
- Everyday Life and Women in America, c. 1800-1920
- Ancestry Library Edition
- China: Trade, Politics, and Culture, 1793-1980
- Confidential Print: Latin America, 1833-1969
- Government Printing Office
For more information about primary source databases, please contact your librarian.
Citing Primary Sources
The following guides are available for citing archival materials consulted for papers, projects, and publications. If you need additional help with citations, you can ask a librarian or meet with someone in the Tutoring and Writing Center.