A primary source is a first-hand or contemporary account of an event or topic. They are the most direct evidence of a time or event because they were created by people or things that were there at the time or event. These sources have not been modified by interpretation and offer original thought or new information. Primary sources are original materials, regardless of format. Continue reading from Seton Hall University
A Finding Aid is a document that describes and lists the contents of an archival collection. They are used to help researchers find what they are looking for. See an example here.