TRU Library owns or has access to a number of primary sources for history. This page outlines how to locate these primary source documents.
Primary sources are first-hand accounts from the time period involved. They were created by someone directly involved in the events you’re studying, at the time of the event (or very soon after). They serve as “raw material” to help researchers get as close as possible to what actually happened during an historical event or time period
For example: diaries, letters, photographs, art, maps, original video, film or sound recordings, interviews, or newspaper articles
Secondary sources are created after the fact by individuals or groups who did NOT witness the events being discussed. They describe, analyze, interpret, report, or correlate the information about an event, thing, idea, or someone's life based on their study of primary material AFTER the events in question. They are often based on primary sources.
For example: scholarly or popular books and articles, reference books, biographies, or textbooks
Discover
Two options (and you will get very different results, so try both):
Option 1:
Run your search and then click on the "show more" link under the "Content Type" option to refine your results. Select "Primary Source Documents" and then click on the update" button. (NOTE: This option does not work very well)
Option 2:
Run your search and then click on the "Advanced Search" link underneath the search box. In the second box, add one of the following subheadings to limit your search results and change the search from "select a field" to " SU subject":
Note: "sources" is the most useful term
For example, if you wish to do a search for primary sources on Indigenous Peoples, use:
history AND indians of north america AND sources
NOTES:
To find letters by immigrants try:
immigrants AND Canada AND correspondence
Online Historical Newspapers:
Print/Microfilm Newspapers at the TRU Library:
To find articles in the Vancouver Province, Vancouver Sun, Victoria Daily Colonist, and Victoria Daily Times, use the British Columbia Provincial Library newspaper index (microfilm indexes 1900-1970, 1971-1980; available online from 1991 - 2007)
The Kamloops Museum and Archives has an index of articles published in the Kamloops Daily News prior to 1988.
The Internet has lots of primary sources, but it is very important to look at who is providing the digitized content. The recommended sources listed below have primary documents on many subject areas in Canadian History. Be sure to use the tips in the "Through Discover & the TRU Library Catalogue" (left) to locate many more primary sources. Please note: E-Books are restricted to current TRU students, staff and faculty.
This digital collection of primary source documents helps us to understand existence on the edges of the anglophone world from 1650-1920. Discover the various European and colonial frontier regions of North America, Africa and Australasia through documents that reveal the lives of settlers and indigenous peoples in these areas.
The Internet has lots of primary sources, but it is very important to look at who is providing the digitized content. In addition to the suggested general resources listed at the top of the page, here are some recommended sources with primary documents on many subject areas in Pre-Confederation Canadian History:
The Internet has lots of primary sources, but it is very important
to
look at who is providing the digitized content. In addition to the
suggested general resources listed at the top of the page, here are
some recommended sources
with primary documents on many subject areas in Post-Confederation
Canadian
History:
The Internet has lots of primary sources, but it is very important
to
look at who is providing the digitized content. In addition to the
suggested general resources listed at the top of the page, here are
some recommended sources
with primary documents on many subject areas in BC History:
TIP: Check out the websites for local museums in specific Canadian communities to locate more primary resources
