Think of primary sources as raw data, and secondary sources as the analysis of that data.
Primary sources are contemporary, first-hand accounts/individual representations and works of events, topics, or historical periods. These are usually experienced and created concurrently. A primary source is unfiltered information, meaning there is no analysis or outside review.
Secondary sources are built off of the primary sources. These summarize, evaluate, and/or analyze the content within a primary source. Secondary sources allow for consideration and formation of new perspectives and interpretations of the impact of an event/period/etc.
Author Searching
If an historical figure that is important to your research has published books, search for them as an author:
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