Researching with Primary Sources at Stanford

Welcome to the wonderful world of researching with primary sources at Stanford!

These pages are designed to help you begin exploring some of the resources Stanford can offer you: the following resources may help you with a range of  projects you might be involved with, from your PWR research- based argument papers to your own research projects you develop during your years at Stanford, including  projects for SURP, Summer Research College, and/or your honors theses. 

Below you will find samples from three major resources: Hoover Archives, Green Special Collections, and the Sulair Music Library. Follow the links to find more information about each resource, and to see which research topics lend themselves to each collection.

I. Hoover Archives

The Hoover Archives are located in the Herbert Hoover Memorial Building next to the Hoover tower.  This non-circulating collection contains over 60 million documents as well as over 100,000 political posters from around the world and provides an amazing resource for primary research. Many of the archive collections have paper or online finding aids to help you search the materials.

II.  Green Library Special Collections

III. SULAIR Music Library Archives

The Stanford Music Library houses an impressive range of recordings and streaming audio -- from streaming audio, to sheet music, World War II radio shows, and a range of authors reading their works.   The library is located in the Braun Music Center, in the center of campus, near the Post Office and the Law School (click for a map), but a vast array of its holdings are available through its website.

IV. Sample Student Research Papers

You might find it helpful to look at some of the research papers which students have written based on their research with primary sources:

1. Ambrose Bierce
2. Nazi Breeding Program

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