What is considered a primary source of information?

A primary source of information is a document or artifact that was created at the time under study. This means it provides direct evidence or firsthand accounts of an event, topic, or phenomenon. Examples include diaries, letters, photographs, official documents, or artifacts from a specific time period. These sources offer valuable insights because they reflect the perspective and context of the time when they were created, allowing historians and researchers to gain an authentic understanding of historical events.

In contrast, other options relate to interpretations or representations of past events, rather than direct evidence. Textbooks, for example, summarize a range of sources and analyses to provide context and understanding but do not serve as primary evidence themselves. Similarly, analyses of historical events dissect and interpret information found in primary sources or summarize secondary sources to provide insights, which makes them secondary in nature. Reports from modern researchers compile newer findings and insights based on existing data, further removing them from being primary sources.