Which of the following is considered a primary source?

A primary source is an original document or record that provides direct evidence or firsthand accounts of the subject being studied, allowing historians and researchers to draw their own conclusions. Diaries written during a historical period capture the personal experiences, thoughts, and emotions of individuals who lived through those events. This firsthand perspective makes diaries a valuable primary source because they reflect genuine accounts without the influence of secondary interpretation.

In contrast, textbooks on history and scholarly articles reviewing past events are examples of secondary sources, as they compile, analyze, and interpret data from primary sources. Similarly, biographies summarize someone’s life but do so by relying on various source materials, making them secondary rather than primary. Therefore, diaries hold the essential characteristic of being a primary source by offering directly observed insights from the time in question.