You will get limited results if you try to search for "primary sources" in library databases since the Library of Congress does not use that subject heading. Try searching these subject headings instead:
sources
personal narratives
documents
speeches
memoirs or autobiographies
diaries
letters or correspondences
oral histories
DOCUMENTARY HISTORIES: There are collections of documents relating to various subjects, such as Agriculture in the United States: A Documentary History. Search IDS for these by typing your subject along with the phrase "documentary history" in quotes.
DOCUMENTARY FILMS: Be wary of "documentaries" (films) because sometimes they are primary sources but sometimes they provide analysis that is secondary.
PUBLICATION DATES: Be aware that publication dates can be misleading. A new edition of a book published in 1952 is still a primary source even though its publication date is 2009. Look for a books original publication date, which is sometimes listed as well.
If you need help with your history research, sign up for a one-on-one Student Research Consultation (SRC) with a reference librarian who can help guide you through your research project.
The databases below have both scholarly and non-scholarly articles so use with care.
After getting into Google Newspaper Archive (http://news.google.com/newspapers), follow these directions:
TYPE YOUR TOPIC
Look through your results to find articles. If there are too many articles that are not from your time period, you can try to add the year to your search strategy, or add more words describing the event you are researching.
Alternatively, you can search through the text of a specific newspaper by locating the title in the alphabetical list. Just make sure that the date you are looking for is in the range given for the paper.