British and Irish History: Find Primary Sources

The Library Catalog will help you find secondary sources (that will cite primary sources) AND primary sources.  Key terms for finding primary sources: early works to 1800; sources; manuscripts; antiquities.

OR Use an Encyclopedia to Find Primary Sources

An encyclopedia, such as the examples below, you can find important historical events and figures to search in the Library Catalog and primary source collections. Encyclopedias often cite primary sources as well.

Primary Source Collections

Try these methods for finding primary sources

Option 1: Search or browse a digital collection 

Option 2: Find authors from the time period

Step 1: Identify a historical figure from the ancient world. Use this resource:

Step 2: Search the person as an author in the library catalog to find documents that they wrote.

Option 3: Search for images, art, or antiquities from ancient history.

Option 1: Search or browse a digital collection

17th Century

18th Century

Option 2: Find authors from the time period

Step 1: Identify a historical figure from the time period. You can browse this resource by "death date":

Step 2: Search the historical figure as an author in the library catalog to find documents that they wrote.

Digital Collections

Option 2: Search the Library Catalog