Primary sources are firsthand documents of events or research. They exist in a variety of formats, i.e. print, photos, interviews, art, and statistical tables. In general, primary source documents are the foundation for secondary source documents. Secondary sources are often based on primary source material and generally analyze or evaluate other research or information. Secondary sources can usually point the user towards primary source materials through bibliographies or a works cited section.
Boolean operators can limit or expand searches depending on which one is used.
The Humanities Index is a print index that allows the user to find citations to journal articles within the humanities. The Humanities Index can be searched by subject or by book reviews. The Humanities Index can be found on the third floor. Part A, Modern history abstracts, 1450-1914 and Historical abstracts. 3rd Floor Index Tables Historical Abstracts is the leading database for historical research at the PSU library.