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FYSEM 110: Late Victorian London (Fitz-Gibbons)

What are Primary Sources?

Primary sources provide first-hand testimony or direct evidence concerning a topic under investigation. 

  • ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS such as diaries, speeches, letters
  • CREATIVE WORKS such as poetry, music, art 
  • RELICS OR ARTIFACTS such as pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings

What about Science?  In the sciences, a primary source is the published result of experimental or observational research.

Primary Source Collections

Suggested databases to locate newspaper and magazine articles published in the nineteenth century:

Illustrated London News (1842-2003)

London Times Digital Archive (1785-2019)

Sunday Times (London)  (1822-2016)

Nineteenth Century UK Periodicals-

Eight Centuries
A collection of sources from the 12th to 20th centuries. Includes: Index to the New York Times (1863-1905); Index to Harper's Magazine (1880-1905); Poole's Index to Periodical Literature (1802-1906); Stead's Index to Periodical Literature (the "British Poole's") (1890-1902); Index to the New York Daily Tribune 1875-1906; Descriptive catalog of the government publications of the U. S. (1774-1881).

Punch Magazine
Full-text of all issues from the satirical magazine, PUNCH, from 1841-1992

Document Collections:

Parliamentary Papers   (1801- 1900) Full text of the complete set of the nineteenth century British Parliamentary Papers collection including Hansard Parliamentary Debates. A major source of primary source materials on all aspects of British society and the British Empire.

Nineteenth Century Collections Online  Includes "British Politics and Society" - Full text collections of major British primary source materials including radical newspapers, British Cabinet Papers, Home Office files. 

Victorian Web With over 61,000 documents and images, the Victorian Web focuses on the literature, history and culture in the age of Victoria.