What Are Primary Sources?
The Centre for Criminology Library holds an abundant and diverse collection of primary sources. These collections are a valuable resource for faculty, graduate, and undergraduate research across the fields of criminology, sociology, public policy, and equity studies.
Primary sources include:
- First-hand accounts of events
- Materials created by individuals present at an event
- Records created at the time of an event
- Raw data
Primary sources can consist of official records (legislation, censuses, parish records, etc.), published sources (newspapers, photographs, interviews, etc.), and private sources (letters, wills, home recordings, etc.).
Primary sources can be valuable research resources as they provide:
- Direct and unfiltered accounts of events, issues, topics, and debates
- Historical context to current circumstances and trends
- Access to diverse perspectives, voices, and communities
* Content adapted from UTSC Finding Primary Sources Research Guide.
The Centre for Criminology Library Collection
Explore the links below, or the menu tabs to the left, to learn more about the primary source collections housed in the Centre for Criminology Library.
Content Advisory: Please note that the materials included in these collections may contain information that is upsetting or triggering to some. Due to the nature of these materials, they may contain mention of suicide, police violence, criminal violence, or neglect and mistreatment in penal institutions. Please take care when accessing these materials.
Additional Resources
For more information on primary sources, and how to use them in your research, explore the University of Toronto resources below:
- UTSC Finding Primary Sources Research Guide: Learn what primary sources are and how to find them
- Subjects A-Z: Primary source: Search for primary sources by subject available through University of Toronto Libraries