Primary Text Research in the Humanities

Primary texts are the uninterpreted, textual evidence used by humanities researchers to support their arguments and opinions about their research topic. Research in the humanities often requires the analysis and interpretation of primary text material, but finding this material can be challenging.

This guide will help you to locate primary text material available in the Brandeis University Libraries.

• Starting Out: what primary texts are and how to begin looking for them.
  
• Primary Text Research Practices: search strategies to find and locate primary texts.
  
• Primary Text Guides : selected resources by subject, such as American history, comparative history, and literary studies.
  

Note: This guide focuses on the written word. It does not cover research methods for visual, audio, or statistical primary source materials.

Created by
Anthony T. Vaver
Humanities Librarian

This page was last modified on: Apr 12, 2007