What is a primary source? (History)
Answer
Primary sources in historical research are sources that are contemporary to the time being studied. These items must not only be produced in the time studied but also by someone who was: an eyewitness to the time, person, or event you are studying or a participant in the event; someone who lived at that time who was affected by the person, place, or thing you are studying and commented on it somehow.
Examples of primary sources can be:
- documents such as letters or memos
- photographs
- artifacts
- film
- oral histories
- interviews
- newspaper articles
- and much more depending on the context.