This wall painting found in Pompeii is an example of a primary source about people in Pompeii in Roman times. Image from the Wikipedia article for "Primary source", which is itself an example of a tertiary source.
Reference materials (also called reference or background sources) offer quick specific facts or information or an overview of a subject. Some examples of reference sources are: dictionaries, encyclopedias, bibliographies, almanacs, directories, atlases, and handbooks. These can be online or in print.
Credible Reliable Sources:
Good Background Information:
More Effective Database Searching:
Bibliographies
CREDO provides online access to 650+ full text eBooks including encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, and much more. Searches can be expanded to include articles in SMU databases for more in depth coverage. Try the Mind Map feature to get ideas for related topics and key words