What is a primary source?

A primary source is defined as an original document or firsthand account of an event. This means it is a direct piece of evidence created at the time of the event or shortly thereafter, offering insights into the personal experiences, thoughts, and observations of individuals who lived through it. Examples of primary sources include diaries, letters, official documents, photographs, and artifacts.

This understanding is critical in historical studies as primary sources provide unmediated access to the thoughts and feelings of people from the past, allowing historians and researchers to form their interpretations and analyses based on original evidence rather than filtered information.

In contrast, the other options present either interpretations or summaries of information, which belong to secondary or tertiary sources. For instance, interpretations made in secondary sources may involve analysis and critique of primary sources, but they lack the immediacy and authenticity offered by firsthand accounts.