5. Find primary sources that relate to your topic or question.
For your topic, primary sources will probably be a historical first-hand account or original document created by someone who directly experienced or participated in an event. Some of these sources are only available in archives and special collections that you have to visit to view. If you get a chance, visit our university archives! They're currently located on the 4th floor of Ekstrom Library.
But there are also primary sources that have been digitized that you can find and access online. For example, you can find an image of a redling map of Louisville here.
Primary sources can also refer to original scientific research studies. This is when researchers conduct an experiment or study and share their results (usually including data in tables and figures). A secondary source in the sciences would be something like a review or column. Some library databases have a filter to narrow your results to Research Article or something similar.