Understanding Primary Sources
Open Access Sources of Government and other Primary Source Information
Choosing a topic
Choosing a workable topic that interests you is central to your success in writing a quality research paper. The following sources may help you to gather the background information that you need to choose a focused and workable topic.
Encyclopedias
- Encyclopedia of Crime. (2009).
- Kelly, R. (2000). Encyclopedia of organized crime in the United States : From Capone's Chicago to the new urban underworld. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. Ref HV6446, K43 2000
- Levinson, D. (2002). Encyclopedia of crime and punishment. Thousand Oaks, Calif. ; London: SAGE.Mafia Encyclopedia [REF] HV6441 .S53 2005
Historical Newspaper Articles and other Primary Sources
Historians rely upond primary sources to do historical research. Historical newspaper sources often offer valuable primary source information on the news of the day. Every day more and more historical newspaper source material becomes available on the Internet, either through IUP Library databases or freely accessible digital projects. Historical newspaper databases offered by IUP Libraries include the Historical New York Times, Pittsburgh Courier, and the Wall Street Journal, and Access Newspaper. The Google Newspaper Archive site also offers full-text access to many other historical newspapers.
- Access NewspapersFull-text access of historical newspapers
Library Databases for Secondary Sources
Government Information / Outreach Librarian
Finding Historical Government Information
Finding Primary Sources Keywords
Letters
Manuscripts
Diaries
Journals
Speeches
Interviews
Pictures
Audio recordings
Film (sometimes)
Documents (sometimes)
Newspaper (sometimes)