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Research Guides

History: Primary Sources

A guide to finding primary sources in history.

Special Research Collections, University Libraries

The University of Oklahoma Libraries has several special research collections that have primary source materials. 
Search the finding aids for all these collections.

American School of Architecture Archive -  An expansive archive of primary source materials including architectural drawings, photographs, planning records, and models that document the legacy of the American School. (Bizzell Memorial Library's 5th Floor Special Research Collections.) 

Chinese Literature Translation Archive - A wide range of rare books, reference materials, translation drafts, correspondence, notes, ephemera, and other historical materials that provide context for Western readers to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese literature. (Bizzell Memorial Library, 4th Floor, West).

Harry W. Bass Business History Collection - Materials relating to the history of business and industry. (Bizzell Memorial Library's 5th Floor Special Research Collections.) 

History of Science Collections - Materials from every field and subject area of science, technology, and medicine, ranging from 1467 to current publications. (Bizzell Memorial Library's 5th Floor Special Research Collections.) 

John and Mary Nichols Rare Books and Special Collections - Materials in English, European, and American literatures dating from the 15th century. (Bizzell Memorial Library's 5th Floor Special Research Collections.) 

University Archives - Many sources such as presidential papers, department papers, publications, college level archives. (Western History Collections, Monnet Hall, Room 300.)

Western History Collections - Materials on Native Americans, Oklahoma, and the American West. Also houses Diplomatic Archive. (Monnet Hall, Room 300.)

William Bennett Bizzell Bible Collection - Bibles in many different languages as well as commentaries, textual studies, illustrations, geographies and histories of the holy land, works on the life of Christ, prayer books and hymnals. (Bizzell Memorial Library's 5th Floor Special Research Collections.) 

Digital Collections, University Libraries

Other Archives and Special Collections on Campus

Search the finding aids to all these collections in ARC.

The Ballets Russes Archive at the School of Dance, which holds materials such as contracts, correspondence, programs, clippings, diaries, scrapbooks, photographs and more from Ballets Russes dancers. 

The Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center hosts the

The Native American Languages Collection at the Sam Noble Museum, which includes audio and video recordings, manuscripts, books, journals, ephemera and teaching curricula, including lesson plans, from more than 175 Native North American languages. 

Microforms

The University of Oklahoma Libraries holds a significant collection of primary source material reproduced on microfilm or microfiche.

See this guide to browse a list of some of these materials or search the Local Catalog for a specific title.

Most microforms are held in off-site storage; please use Sooner Xpress to retrieve them.

Microform readers are on the fourth floor. See this guide for more information.

Pre-1979 Revolution Iranian Political Pamphlet Collection

The University of Oklahoma has acquired a substantial collection of primary source material relating to the 1979 Iranian revolution. Most material is in Persian. The collection comprises more than 350 items, mostly consisting of pamphlets and short political tracts produced by intellectuals, student activists, and political parties working to overthrow the Pahlavi monarchy. Much of the material was printed and circulated by leftist and Islamist opposition groups residing in Europe and North American during the 1960s and 1970s. For more information see Dr. Afshin Marashi's guide, below. Also see this link to all titles in the library's catalog and this Featured Collection.
 
To use the collection, please contact the History of Science Collections.