A primary source in history is an original material that provides direct, firsthand evidence about a historical event, period, or topic. These sources were created by people who experienced or witnessed the event at the time it occurred, without later interpretation or modification. Primary sources can be documents, artifacts, recordings, or any original materials produced during the time under study

. Examples of primary sources include:

• Diaries, letters, and autobiographies written by people who lived through the events
• Official documents, government records, treaties, and court proceedings
• Photographs, maps, original film footage, and audio recordings
• Artifacts such as pottery, clothing, tools, and buildings
• Creative works like literature, poetry, music, and art created during the period in question

Primary sources are essential for historians because they offer unfiltered insight into the past and allow direct engagement with historical experiences. However, they must be critically analyzed, considering the author's perspective, purpose, and potential biases, as well as the historical context in which they were created

. In contrast, secondary sources interpret, analyze, or summarize primary sources and are usually created after the fact, such as history books, articles, and encyclopedias

. In summary, a primary source is the closest original evidence to a historical event, created by those directly connected to it, providing the foundational materials for historical research and understanding