China's existing archival practice contains a rich people first value orientation, and China's independent knowledge system of archival science should condense and elevate this thought. At the same time, the adherence to the position and method of people first provides guidance for the improvement and innovation of China's independent knowledge system of archival science. Accelerating the construction of China's independent knowledge system of archival science should reveal and reflect the concept of people first from the three levels of conceptual system, theoretical system and methodological system to enhance the localization and originality of China's independent knowledge system of archival science. It should excavate and deepen the viewpoints and methods of people first from the four dimensions of archives governance, archive resource construction, archive utilization service and archive security and build a systematic and theoretical knowledge system and return to practice and guide practice.