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Primary & Secondary Sources

This guide will help you learn the difference between primary and secondary sources in various subject areas and provides resources for locating primary sources, both in the library and on the open web.

Political History Resources

Avalon Project Documents in law, history and diplomacy from ancient to modern times.

U.S. Historical Documents Guide to working with U.S. Historical Documents at the Fresno State Library

Ease History A rich learning environment that supports the learning of US history. Over 600 videos and photographs are currently available, including Almost 200 US presidential campaign ads from the 1952 to 2004 elections.

Officail Documents of the United Nations (ODS) This database has the full text of approximately 800,000 documents, most of them published since 1993. Thousands of documents are being added every year, including many published prior to 1993. Resolutions and Decisions from 1946-1993 are available in a separate Resolutions database, accessible through the advanced search screen.

UNESCO Archives Portal Has links to primary sources from international organizations and countries throughout the world. Also links to exhibitions and to ongoing digitization projects.

Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Contains text and PDF versions of statements, messages, and other Presidential materials issued by the White House. Available at the site from 1993 to January 29, 2009 and in PDF format only at HeinOnline (see Federal Register Library) from 1965-2009. The Weekly Compilation has been replaced by the Daily Compilation of Presidential Documents.