The definition of a primary source depends upon the discipline and on how one is using the source.
Usually, a primary source is a direct, first-hand account of an event. It is usually something that was created at the time of an event, or shortly thereafter. It's a first-person account of an event. Examples include:
- Diaries
- Letters
- Speeches
- Interviews
- Statistics
- Photographs
- Art
- Newspaper articles
- Maps
- Video and audio recordings
- First-hand narratives or stories
A secondary source would be something that interprets, analyses, or remarks upon a primary source. Examples include:
- Scholarly journal articles
- Newspaper and magazine articles
- Essays
- Theses and dissertations
- Stories or films produced about an historical event