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Stony Brook University

Comparative Literature

What are primary sources?

Primary sources are first-hand accounts of an event or topic by someone who has direct knowledge or experience with it.

Examples of primary sources include:

  • Diaries
  • Research data, clinical reports, case studies
  • Newspaper articles
  • Speeches
  • Interviews
  • Creative works such as photographs, video, music

Select Primary Source Databases

If you are researching a particular time period, culture, language, or topic, be sure to check the related Research Guide for more resources. You can also visit the Research Guides on Primary Sources for helpful information and links.

NOTE: Select Newspaper databases are in the Databases section of this guide.

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