Looking for information on how to cite a book, journal article, newspaper, or other material found in the Dalhousie Libraries? Check out the Libraries' Citation Style Guide.
When you quote or paraphrase an archival source in your work, you must provide a full citation to the material. This section of the Archival Research Guide pages provide information on how to cite archival material using APA, MLA, and Chicago citation styles.
Regardless of which style you use, all citations of archival materials typically include four key elements:
The title of the file or item; provide a short description if the material is untitled.
The name given by the archives to the fonds or collection.
Sometimes called an identifier. Similar to call numbers used to locate items within in a library. Dalhousie University Archives' reference codes typically include a collection identifier (e.g., UA-2 or MS-3-245), and numbers that identify the specific box and folder.
The name of the archives or library and its geographic location
Archival material is not included in the APA Publication Manual, 7th Edition. Please consult the APA Style website for more details on standards and procedures. For more information on how to cite additional archival formats, consult the APA Style page on Archival Documents and Collections.
Author last name, First Initial. (year month day). Title [Description of material]. Name of collection (Reference code). Name of repository, Location of repository. Retrieved from URL if applicable.
(Author's Last Name(s) or Organization, Year)
I'm citing a...
Reference
Hicks, H.D. (1956, October 24). Correspondence from Henry Davies Hicks to the Annapolis County electorate. Henry Davies Hicks fonds (MS-2-511, Box 15, Folder 9). Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. https://findingaids.library.dal.ca/andy-mackay-installed-as-president-of-dal-3549.
In-text citation
Parenthetical citation: (Hicks, 1956)
Narrative citation: Hicks (1956)
Reference
Wilson, B. (2000). Typescript of short story Brothers and Sisters by Budge Wilson. Budge Wilson fonds (MS-2-650.2013-070, Box 3, Folder 9). Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
In-text citation
Parenthetical citation: (Wilson, 2000)
Narrative citation: Wilson (2000)
Some examples of graphic material can include: drawings, posters, paintings, cartoons, comics, prints, and broadsides.
Reference
Doyle, R. (1992). Costume design for Andromache and son. Robert Doyle fonds (MS-3-18, Box 6, Folder 5, Item 5). Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. https://findingaids.library.dal.ca/costume-design-for-andromache-and-son.
In-text citation
Parenthetical citation: (Doyle, 1992).
Narrative citation: Doyle (1992)
Some examples of ephemera can include: postcards, posters, pamphlets, and broadsides.
Reference
Dalhousie Student Union. (1986). In Search of the Supernatural [poster]. Dalhousie University Reference Collection (MS-1-Ref, Box 16, Folder 27). Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
In-text citation
Parenthetical citation: (Dalhousie Student Union, 1986)
Narrative citation: Dalhousie Student Union (1986)
Reference
Wamboldt-Waterfield Photography. (1981, February 7). Andy MacKay Installed as President of Dal [photograph]. Wamboldt Waterfield Photographic Collection (MS-4-250, Box 74, Folder 7). Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. https://findingaids.library.dal.ca/andy-mackay-installed-as-president-of-dal-3549.
In-text citation
Parenthetical citation: (Wamboldt-Waterfield Photography, 1981)
Narrative citation: Wamboldt-Waterfield Photography (1981)
Chicago Manual of Style has two systems for citing course: Notes and Bibliography and Author-Date. Check your assignment or ask your professor if you are uncertain about which citation style you should use.
Be sure to consult The Chicago Manual of Style or the online quick guide for detailed standards and procedures. Most of the guidelines for citing archival material can be found in the Chicago Manual of Style under sections for “Manuscript Collections.”
In the Notes and Bibliography system, sources are cited at the bottom of the page in numbered footnotes, or at the end of each section or chapter in numbered endnotes. Each note corresponds to a raised (superscript) number in the text. In some cases, sources are then listed in a separate bibliography at the end of the paper.
1. Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Reference code, Collection name, Repository name, Location of repository. URL if applicable.
In a note, the title of the item should be cited first. Use quotation marks only for specific titles, not for generic terms like report or letter. Capitalize generic terms if they are part of the heading appearing on the manuscript. Generic terms should be lowercased if they are only used as descriptors.
Subsequent citations for the same document, or if using other documents from the same collection, may be shortened. The shortened form is added in parentheses at the end of the first citation.
Typescript of short story Brothers and Sisters by Budge Wilson, 2000, MS-2-650.2013-070, Box 3, Folder 9, Budge Wilson fonds, Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (hereafter cited as Typescript, Budge Wilson fonds).
Typescript, Budge Wilson fonds.
Last Name, First Name of author. Collection name. Repository name, Location of Repository.
In a bibliography, the citation usually begins with the name of the collection or the last name of the author. List citations alphabetically. Only cite individual items when you have referenced only a single item from a collection.
Wilson, Budge. Budge Wilson fonds. Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Wilson, Budge. Typescript of short story Brothers and Sisters, 2000, Budge Wilson fonds. Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
I'm citing a...
Notes
Correspondence from Henry Davies Hicks to the Annapolis County electorate, 24 October 1956, MS-2-511, Box 15, Folder 9, Henry Davies Hicks fonds, Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Bibliography
Henry Davies Hicks fonds. Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Notes
Typescript of short story Brothers and Sisters by Budge Wilson, 2000, MS-2-650.2013-070, Box 3, Folder 9, Budge Wilson fonds, Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Bibliography
Budge Wilson fonds. Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Notes
Photograph of Andy McKay's installation as Dalhousie president, February 1981, MS-4-250, Box 74, Folder 7, Wamboldt-Waterfield Photographic Collection, Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Bibliography
Wamboldt-Waterfield Photographic Collection. Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Some examples of graphic material can include: drawings, posters, paintings, cartoons, comics, prints, and broadsides.
Notes
Costume design for Andromache and son, 1992, MS-3-18, Box 6, Folder 5, Item 5, Robert Doyle fonds, Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia. https://findingaids.library.dal.ca/costume-design-for-andromache-and-son.
Bibliography
Robert Doyle fonds. Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Some examples of ephemera can include: postcards, posters, pamphlets, and broadsides.
Notes
Poster for Dalhousie Student Union event, "In Search of the Supernatural," 1986, MS-1-Ref, Box 16, Folder 27, Dalhousie University Reference Collection, Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Bibliography
Dalhousie University Reference Collection. Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Basic Format: (Collection Title Date)
Dates of individual items should be mentioned in the text, when applicable. In such cases, it is not necessary to add the date along with the collection title in parentheses.
Basic Format: Collection Name. Repository Name, Repository Location. URL.
I'm citing...
In-text citation
Hicks outlined his position in a letter to the Annapolis County electorate dated October 24, 1956 (Henry Davies Hicks fonds).
Bibliography
Henry Davies Hicks fonds. Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
In-text citation
Hicks outlined his position in a letter to the Annapolis County electorate dated October 24, 1956 (Henry Davies Hicks fonds).
Bibliography
Hicks, Henry Davies. 24 October 1956. Letter from Henry Davies Hicks to the Annapolis County electorate. MS-2-511, Box 15, Folder 9, Henry Davies Hicks fonds. Dalhousie University Archives, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
MLA follows an author-page format for in-text citation. You should provide enough information within the text to enable readers to locate the full source in the Works Cited page and to differentiate between multiple works by the same author. Usually the author’s surname is sufficient, and/or the date and/or title when citing multiple works by an author or an item with no known author.
General format: Author (last name, first name). Title/description of material. Date (day month year). Call number, identifier or box/folder/item number. Collection name. Name of repository, location.