Research Guides: Library Guide for Humanities 1P50: Primary Sources

Primary sources vs. secondary sources

Many primary sources have been gathered and published in books.

To find these, search in OMNI for your topic and one or more of the following search terms:

See the results of this search and try it with your own search terms.

Sixties This link opens in a new window
1960-1974
U.K. Parliamentary Papers This link opens in a new window
Over 20,000 HOC sessional papers (1715-present)
National Film Board of Canada This link opens in a new window
- Find documentaries and films of the lives of Canadians, the environment, human rights, international conflict and more
- Register for an NFB Education account to bookmark your favourite films. Note that as of September 2024, NFB Campus is NFB Education, and a separate account is not required to access NFB Education content. More info about these changes.
- Permitted Uses
Described video and closed captioning capabilities available.
View NFB Playlists for a list of themed videos curated by NFB staff.

UK National Archives: Public Information Films
View the complete public information films from 1945-2006.
Foreign Relations of the United States
The official documentary historical record of major U.S. foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic activity.

Vogue Archive This link opens in a new window
- Contains the entire digitized collection of American Vogue Magazine (1892-current)
- Every page, cover, advertisement, image, and fold out is indexed, searchable, and viewable in beautiful high-resolution color.
- A unique record of American and international fashion, culture and society.
- Permitted Uses

U.K. Parliamentary Papers This link opens in a new window
- House of Commons sessional papers from 1715 to present and supplementary material from 1688
- Permitted Uses for 18th Century collection
- Permitted Uses for 19th-21st Century collection
North American Immigrant Letters, Diaries and Oral Histories This link opens in a new window
Full text of letters, diaries and oral histories of immigrants to America and Canada. Indexing by year, place, subject, etc.

Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO), Part I and Part II This link opens in a new window
Includes every accessible English-language and foreign-language title published in the United Kingdom between 1701 and 1800, along with thousands of important works from the Americas.
Eighteenth Century Journals I & II This link opens in a new window
Includes rare journals printed between 1693 and 1799 illuminating all aspects of eighteenth-century social, political and literary life.
U.K. Parliamentary Papers This link opens in a new window
- House of Commons sessional papers from 1715 to present and supplementary material from 1688
- Permitted Uses for 18th Century collection
- Permitted Uses for 19th-21st Century collection

America's Historical Imprints (Early American Imprints) This link opens in a new window
Includes Early American Imprints, Series I: Evans, 1639-1800 and Early American Imprints, Series I: Supplement from the Library Company of Philadelphia, 1670-1800.
American Antiquarian Society (AAS) Historical Periodicals Collection This link opens in a new window
- Comprehensive collection of American periodicals published between 1684 and 1912.
- Permitted Uses
Early English Books Online (EEBO) This link opens in a new window
Contains digital facsimile page images of virtually every work printed in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and British North America and works in English printed elsewhere from 1473-1700. Also includes some post 1700 materials.