In history, we often talk about primary and secondary sources. But what exactly are they, and what is the difference between them?
Primary sources are original documents such as diaries, speeches, manuscripts, letters, photographs, interviews, and so on. These are documents that were created at the time of the period of history we are studying. For example, a letter from Gandhi to Lord Irwin in 1931 would be a primary source. This is because it is a first-hand document.
Secondary sources are different. They are documents that discuss, evaluate, synthesize, or analyze sources of information. For example, a biography of Gandhi written by a historian would be a secondary source. This is because the historian used different sources of information to create a discussion about Gandhi.
If you are studying a subject in the humanities / social sciences, it is helpful to have a good understanding of sources of information and the difference between primary and secondary sources. This will allow you to analyze, evaluate and synthesis topics, ideas, and concepts more effectively.