A diary would be considered which type of historical source?

• A. Secondary source
• B. Primary source
• C. Tertiary source
• D. Oral tradition

Answer: (B)

Primary sources are first-hand accounts created by people who witnessed or lived through events. A diary fits this because it records the writer’s own experiences, thoughts, and observations as they happened or soon after. That direct, personal perspective provides evidence about daily life and events from the diarist’s point of view. It’s not a secondary source, which would interpret or analyze other sources, nor a tertiary source, which would summarize or compile overviews. It isn’t oral tradition, since a diary is a written document rather than something spoken and passed down verbally.