A primary source is an original, first-hand account or evidence about a topic or event, created by someone who directly experienced or witnessed it. It includes artifacts, documents, diaries, manuscripts, autobiographies, recordings, photographs, speeches, interviews, legal documents, research reports, and creative works produced at the time under study or by participants in the event
. Primary sources are distinguished from secondary sources, which analyze, interpret, or comment on primary sources and are usually created after the event by people not directly involved
. The classification of a source as primary or secondary can depend on the context and discipline; for example, a memoir can be a primary source about its author but secondary when used to study broader cultural history
. In summary, primary sources provide direct, original evidence or testimony about a subject, making them foundational for research and historical study
