Primary Source (First-Hand) is exemplified by which?

• A. The first hand eye-witness accounts of an event. Example: A letter written by George Washington about a battle he fought in.
• B. A textbook explaining the event.
• C. A biography.
• D. A newspaper article analyzing the event.

Answer: (A)

Primary sources are materials created at the time of an event by someone who directly witnessed or experienced it. A letter written by George Washington about a battle he fought in is a firsthand account because it comes from the person who experienced the event and records his own observations. That direct connection to the event makes it a primary source. In contrast, a textbook explains the event after the fact, so it’s a secondary source. A biography also summarizes someone else’s life, making it secondary. A newspaper article that analyzes the event tends to interpret or critique rather than present a direct, personal account, so it isn’t the clearest example of a first-hand source.