Please Note: when researching primary sources, we face the realities of racism, antisemitism, misogyny, ableism, and other systemic oppression in our history. In the course of your research, you may come across troubling words, images and ideas. It is important that we understand that these words, images, and ideas are part of our history. It is also important that we understand the potential of these words, images, and ideas to be upsetting, offensive, and even harmful. Enter into your research as historians, and communicate your findings respectfully and with intention.
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation's record keeper. Of all documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States Federal government, only 1%-3% are so important for legal or historical reasons that they are kept by us forever. You can search the archive's collections for primary sources.
