Primary Source — Definition

Direct answer

Primary Source — Definition is implemented as a source-bounded definition guide.

Answer contract

Apply the definition lens only to the exact inspected source scope; do not infer authority from adjacent topics.

Evidence and exact locators

t24-loc-primary-sources — https://www.loc.gov/programs/teachers/getting-started-with-primary-sources/ — “What are primary sources?” and “Why teach with primary sources?”. Supports: Defines primary sources as original documents and objects created at the time under study and distinguishes observation from inference during analysis.

t24-primary-source-contract — lib/source-recovery.ts — validateObservation and compileRecoveryPackets. Supports: Separates source identity, access, inspection depth, locator, version relationship, and claim support.

What the evidence does not establish

Whether something is primary depends on the research question and use; primary status does not establish truth, completeness, neutrality, or sufficient context.

A typed recovery packet records supplied evidence state; it does not prove that a source is truthful or sufficient for a claim.

Rights and reuse

official-public-reference; bounded paraphrase only

project-owned-reference-only

Dependencies and related concepts

applies-to: urn:maha:concept:evidence:primary-source

governed-by: urn:maha:concept:governance

evidence-for: urn:maha:concept:evidence

Authority and locator

This authority and locator section is constrained to the same inspected scope: Defines primary sources as original documents and objects created at the time under study and distinguishes observation from inference during analysis. Separates source identity, access, inspection depth, locator, version relationship, and claim support.

It must preserve the recorded boundary: Whether something is primary depends on the research question and use; primary status does not establish truth, completeness, neutrality, or sufficient context. A typed recovery packet records supplied evidence state; it does not prove that a source is truthful or sufficient for a claim.

Context or method

This context or method section is constrained to the same inspected scope: Defines primary sources as original documents and objects created at the time under study and distinguishes observation from inference during analysis. Separates source identity, access, inspection depth, locator, version relationship, and claim support.

It must preserve the recorded boundary: Whether something is primary depends on the research question and use; primary status does not establish truth, completeness, neutrality, or sufficient context. A typed recovery packet records supplied evidence state; it does not prove that a source is truthful or sufficient for a claim.

Limits and uncertainty

This limits and uncertainty section is constrained to the same inspected scope: Defines primary sources as original documents and objects created at the time under study and distinguishes observation from inference during analysis. Separates source identity, access, inspection depth, locator, version relationship, and claim support.

It must preserve the recorded boundary: Whether something is primary depends on the research question and use; primary status does not establish truth, completeness, neutrality, or sufficient context. A typed recovery packet records supplied evidence state; it does not prove that a source is truthful or sufficient for a claim.

Dependencies

This dependencies section is constrained to the same inspected scope: Defines primary sources as original documents and objects created at the time under study and distinguishes observation from inference during analysis. Separates source identity, access, inspection depth, locator, version relationship, and claim support.

It must preserve the recorded boundary: Whether something is primary depends on the research question and use; primary status does not establish truth, completeness, neutrality, or sufficient context. A typed recovery packet records supplied evidence state; it does not prove that a source is truthful or sufficient for a claim.

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