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ENGL 4039 Black Romanticism (Dembowitz): Primary Resources

This guide is intended for use by students in the Fall 2021 section of ENGL 4039, Black Romanticism taught by Lauren Dembowitz. Others may find the content useful.

What are Primary Sources?

Primary sources are original artifacts or documents. They are usually defined as first hand information that are communicated by witnesses or participants in past events. They also include original creative works such as poetry, fiction, and plays. Primary sources are characterized not by their format but rather by the information they convey and their relationship to your research question.

Examples of primary sources include, but are not limited to:

  • Diaries and literary memoirs
  • Letters/correspondence
  • Artistic works (musical and visual arts)
  • News segments/transcripts
  • Speeches
  • Interviews
  • Editorials
  • Legal documents and statistics 
  • Eyewitness accounts
  • Experiment results
  • Interviews
  • Surveys
  • Fieldwork
  • Emails/ blogs/ listservs
  • Creative writing
  • Audio and video

Relevant Primary Resource Databases

The following databases are both subscription collections provided by CU Libraries as well as digital archives collections that are openly available on the Internet.

Rare and Distinctive Collections at CU Boulder

Rare and Distinctive Collections (RaD) at the CU Boulder Libraries includes four special subject collections: rare books and manuscripts, the archives, government information, and the map collection. RaD also offers a full suite of services, including our in-person reading room, a robust instruction program, and specialized research assistance. For more information or general inquiries, please contact us at rad@colorado.edu.

Databases with Historical News by Century