A primary source is a record created as part of, or during an event, crisis, or time period. For instance a letter, diary, governmental report, newspaper, or speech produced during the American Civil War would be a primary source. While a memoir of the war written after the fact could also be considered a primary source it would not be as valid as those produced at the time the event took place (memory can blur or embellish events). A book written about the Civil War by an historian would be considered a secondary source. A secondary source is the compilation or interpretation of events by an individual; often one who has used primary sources to produce the work.

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