Major Primary Source Database Publishers for the humanities and social sciences
There are five major primary source publishers: Adam Matthew, Alexander Street, Gale Primary Sources, History Vault (Proquest), and Readex. The links below will take you to each publisher's portal where you can cross search all of their databases. If you are seeking video, try Alexander Street first.
Canadian Content
Limited Canadian content in Primary Source Best Bets
For more options see HISTORY - CANADA - HISTORIC / PRIMARY SOURCES
Adam Matthew (over 60 primary source databases)
- Adam Matthew - All Collections This link opens in a new window
Primary source collections in the social sciences and humanities. Collections the University of Alberta Library subscribes to are also listed individually in the database lists.
| SUBJECTS | |
| Area Studies | Literature |
| Cultural Studies | Politics |
| Empire and Globalism | Theatre |
| Ethnic Studies | War and Conflict |
| History |
Alexander Street, a Proquest Company (over 60 databases)
- Alexander Street - All CollectionsThis platform provides access to material in a wide range of formats, including books, documents and other primary source material. Audio and video collections include both educational and performance content.
- Best bet for streaming historical content
- Over 60 primary source databases
| SUBJECTS | |
| Art & Design | Literature & Language |
| Art & Architecture | Music & Performing Arts |
| Fashion Studies | Personal Interest |
| Diversity | Personal Interest |
| Health Sciences | Science & Engineering |
| History | Social Sciences |
Gale Primary Sources (over 40 databases)
- Gale Primary SourcesAn integrated research platform that allows searching over 40 Gale primary source collections. Newspapers, Audio, Images, Magazines, Manuscripts, Maps, Monographs, Periodicals, Photographs, Videos
Content spanning many centuries, geographic regions and subject areas
| DATABASES CATEGORIES | |
| Early Modern to Modern Period | Legal Studies |
| Nineteenth Century | Newspapers and Periodicals |
| Contemporary Studies |
History Vault (Proquest History Vault)
- History VaultDigitized letters, papers, photographs, scrapbooks, financial records, diaries, and many more primary source materials taken from the University Publications of America (UPA) Collections, University Microfilms International (UMI) research collections, and additional collections scanned from the original documents.
- Best bet for USA content
- Hundreds of databases
| SUBJECT AREA MODULES | |
| Civil Rights and the Black Freedom Struggle | American Indians and the American West |
| Southern Life, Slavery, and the Civil War | American Politics and Society |
| Women's Studies | International Relations and Military Conflicts |
| Workers, Labor Unions, Progressives, and Radicals | Latinx History |
Readex AllSearch
- Readex AllSearchCenturies of primary sources: books, pamphlets, newspapers, government documents, and more
| READEX DATABASES | |
| African American Periodicals | Immigrations, Migrations and Refugees |
| America's Historical Imprints | The Cold War: East-West Tensions |
| America's Historical Newspapers | American Proxy Wars: Korea and Vietnam |
| American Race Relations | Pravda Archive, 1959-1996 |
| Apartheid | Propaganda and the Chinese Press |
| Civil Rights in America | World Protest and Reform Movement |
| Foreign Broadcast Information Service | World Newspaper Archive |
Primary Source Databases (A-Z List)
All Primary Source Databases
Primary Source Databases
University of Alberta Library has over 500 databases containing primary source content. How do you choose?
- Go to the A-Z Databases where you will find three search boxes. The default for the middle box is "All Database Types." Change to "Primary Sources" then choose a Subject area and/or keywords
- Ask Us or contact your Subject Librarian.