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Primary Sources on the Web: Search Engines

Traditionally primary source items are found where they are physically stored. Located within boxes behind the walls of a library, museum or archives. Now, more and more primary sources are made available through the internet for viewing any time of day.

WorldCat

http://www.worldcat.org/

WorldCat.org lets you search the collections of libraries in your community and thousands more around the world. WorldCat grows every day thanks to the efforts of librarians and other information professionals.

NOTE: Type in your search term(s). Once results arrive you can narrow your search to "archival material" as indicated in the image below. This will help return results that might be primary source materials.

Search for an item in libraries near you:
WorldCat.org >>

ArchiveGrid

https://beta.worldcat.org/archivegrid/

ArchiveGrid includes over four million records describing archival materials, bringing together information about historical documents, personal papers, family histories, and more. With over 1,000 different archival institutions represented, ArchiveGrid helps researchers looking for primary source materials held in archives, libraries, museums and historical societies.

Search ArchiveGrid
Find archival collections and primary source materials

Online Archive of California