LibGuides: History: Primary Sources

Primary Source Digital Collections

Published Primary Sources in Farley Library

Many primary source collections are available in print books or eBooks through the Farley Library. To see if we have anything on your topic, use the advanced search page in Summon to search for your topic in all fields and the word "source" in the subject terms field. Remember to apply the book/ebook limiter. For example:

Tutorials to help you read old handwriting and script

BYU Enhanced Script Tutorial
BYU offers tutorials and guides to help you read handwriting in English, Dutch, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin.
English Handwriting, 1500-1700: An online course
This resource has been designed for students and scholars of early modern English letters, history, theology, and philosophy--for anyone whose research will embrace original English manuscript sources in this period. Drawing on the rich manuscript holdings of some of the older Cambridge colleges, it presents an extensive archive of manuscript images unparalleled in printed guides and introductions. Joined to this you will find a range of pedagogical materials--transcription conventions, tips on dating, a bibliography and list of links--suitable for beginners, but convenient also for continuing reference.
UK National Archives Tutorials
UK National Archives offers many web tutorials to help you learn to read the handwriting found in documents written in English between 1500 and 1800.
Benjamin Breen. "Why Does S Look Life an F?: A Beginner's Guide to Reading Early Modern Texts." Res Obscura, 2013.
A blog post that is helpful in understanding how to read early modern handwriting.