What is a primary source?

A primary source is defined as an original document or artifact created during the time under study. This type of source provides direct or firsthand evidence about an event, object, person, or work of art. Examples of primary sources include diaries, speeches, interviews, original research articles, photographs, and official documents. By analyzing primary sources, researchers can gain insights into the experiences, perspectives, and context of the time period being examined.

The other options illustrate secondary or derivative sources. A summary of events from a later perspective presents interpretations or evaluations that are not first-hand accounts. Textbooks, which recount historical events, synthesize information from multiple sources and often include interpretations made by historians. Similarly, a statistical analysis of historical data uses existing information to draw conclusions, rather than providing direct evidence from the time of the events described. Therefore, these do not meet the criteria of primary sources, making the designation of an original document or artifact from the time of study the only appropriate answer.