Q. Where can I find primary sources for the history of China?

There are many places to find primary sources about China and the Chinese people.

Library Search is good place to start. Keyword search to find books & films about your topic and look within them for excerpts of diaries, interviews, facsimiles, etc. (primary sources). 

• Effective keywords to search for primary sources include: Sources, Personal Narratives, Diaries, Correspondence, Documentaries, Interview(s), Letters OR Testimony. Here are examples of some effective search queries:
  • (China OR Chinese) AND Sources
  • (China OR Chinese) AND Diaries
  • Try Author or Subject searching for a particular individual such as Xiaoping Deng, last name first, Deng, Xiaoping 1904-1997, and find the book(s) and browse through the book(s) for excerpts of diaries, correspondence, etc.
• Try browsing The Cambridge History of China (15 volume set) with the call number DS735 .C3145 1978 on the Lower Level of Library which includes primary sources within the text.
• You can also look in the bibliographies, of books you find, to identify other sources of information you may want to explore.

Once you have a good search strategy, additional sources are available through:

• The Asian Reading Room from the Library of Congress
• Google Books

If you are unsure if you've found a primary or secondary source, check with your professor or a librarian.

Contact the Reference Desk for assistance using the above resources or for help locating additional resources.