Doing Research in Art History

Primary sources are first-hand accounts, that serve as original evidence documenting a period, event, people, idea or work. 

Primary sources can be printed materials like books or newspapers, manuscript and archival materials like diaries and documents, artifacts, and audio/visual materials. Primary materials can be found in analog, digitized, and born-digital forms. 

Some examples of primary sources include:

• Memoirs, speeches, writings, correspondence
• Papers of a political party, agency, or association
• Official documents such as congressional hearings and reports
• Contemporary magazine and newspaper articles
• Contemporary art, films, literature, and music
• Contemporary artifacts, such as buildings and monuments

Books or articles written about historical artists during their lifetime can be considered primary sources. 

You can find primary source books and articles in:

News articles written about historical artists during their lifetime can be considered primary sources. 

You can find primary source news articles in:

Search the library catalog:

• Search for the artist's name as Author.

Search the Clark Library Catalog:

• Do a Name search for the artist.
• Sort the results by author for easier browsing.

Search the library catalog:

• Search for the artist's name as Author.
• Add words like "correspondence" or "letters"

Also Try: