{"id":32637,"date":"2022-05-11T12:34:27","date_gmt":"2022-05-11T17:34:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/libraries\/?page_id=32637"},"modified":"2026-03-23T12:50:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T17:50:34","slug":"citation-guide-for-primary-sources","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/libraries\/archives\/research\/citation-guide-for-primary-sources\/","title":{"rendered":"Citation Guide for Primary Resources"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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General Guidelines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By carefully documenting your sources, you acknowledge intellectual debts and provide readers with information about the materials you consulted during your research. Methods for citing primary sources (e.g., archival and manuscript collections) differ from those for published works. The discipline in which you are writing and class requirements will determine the citation system you should use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following are examples of citations for various types of primary sources in three standard citation styles for the social sciences and humanities: Chicago, Modern Language Association (MLA), and American Psychological Association (APA). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chicago Manual of Style<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Chicago<\/em> distinguishes between citation systems for notes and bibliographies. In a footnote<\/strong> or endnote<\/strong>, the main element of a primary source citation is usually a specific item, which is cited first. If the specific item lacks a formal title, you may create one (e.g., photograph<\/em>, interview<\/em>, or minutes<\/em>). Descriptive titles of this kind are not usually enclosed in quotation marks or italicized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Include information about the specific location of an item in a collection by designating box and folder numbers. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

39. J.H. Campbell to James Groppi, Oct. 11, 1969, box 11, folder 1, James Groppi Papers, Milwaukee Mss EX, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Subsequent citations of the same item, or items from the same collection, may be shortened for the reader\u2019s convenience. The writer announces the use of short forms in a parenthetical statement at the end of the first citation, as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

39. J.H. Campbell to James Groppi, Oct. 11, 1969, box 11, folder 1, James Groppi Papers, Milwaukee Mss EX, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department (hereafter cited as Groppi Papers).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

40. Sermon, Aug. 10, 1969, box 15, folder 8, Groppi Papers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a bibliography<\/strong>, the main element is usually the title of the collection in which the specific item may be found, the author(s) of the items in the collection, or the repository of the collection. Specific items are not usually mentioned in a bibliography. We recommend using the collection title as the main element of the citation. If the collection title includes a personal name, we recommend placing the last name first for the reader\u2019s convenience. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Groppi, James, Papers. Milwaukee Mss EX. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Archives Department staff will gladly provide further guidance on citing primary sources in your research papers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Examples of Citations for Items from the Archives Department<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Note Forms<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

41. Diary, 1899, box 3, vol. 4, John Johnston Family Papers, Milwaukee Mss BL, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

42. Scrapbook, 1928-1935, box 31, Milwaukee Public Schools, Department of Municipal Recreation and Community Education Scrapbooks, 51ÁÔÆæ Mss 151, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

43. Minutes, Jan. 9, 1956, box 2, folder 1, Jewish Family and Children\u2019s Service Records, Milwaukee Mss 87, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

44. Photograph of Mr. and Mrs. Simon Kander, undated, box 2, folder 1, Lizzie Black Kander Papers, Milwaukee Mss DN, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

45. Norman Adelman, interview by Michael A. Gordon, May 14, 2008, Oral History Interviews of the March on Milwaukee Oral History Project, 51ÁÔÆæ Mss Collection 281, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department.[2<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

46. Boycott of MacDowell School construction site, Dec. 8, 1965, Daily footage newsfilm, Milwaukee Journal Stations Records, Milwaukee Mss Collection 203, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

47. WTMJ-TV, news film clip of Martin Luther King speaking at UW-Milwaukee (2 of 2), Nov. 23, 1965, March On Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project<\/em>, accessed May 31, 2018, https:\/\/collections.lib.uwm.edu\/digital\/collection\/march\/id\/941.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bibliographic Entries<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Jewish Family and Children\u2019s Service Records. Milwaukee Mss 87. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Johnston, John, Family Papers. Milwaukee Mss BL. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kander, Lizzie Black, Papers. Milwaukee Mss DN. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Milwaukee Journal Stations Records. Milwaukee Mss Collection 203. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Milwaukee Public Schools, Department of Municipal Recreation and Community Education Scrapbooks. 51ÁÔÆæ Mss 151. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oral History Interviews of the March on Milwaukee Oral History Project. 51ÁÔÆæ Mss Collection 281. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives Department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

March On Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project<\/em>. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries. https:\/\/uwm.edu\/marchonmilwaukee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MLA<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In your bibliography (which MLA calls the \u201cWorks Cited\u201d), state the author, document title or description, document date, title of the website, publisher of the website, medium of publication (\u201cWeb\u201d), date accessed, and the reference URL enclosed in angle brackets. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barbee, Lloyd A. Letter to Milwaukee Board of School Directors. 2 May 1965. March On Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project<\/em>. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries. Web. 13 Jan. 2011. <http:\/\/collections.lib.uwm.edu\/ u?\/march,206<\/a>>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fernandez, Ben. Photograph of fair housing demonstration. 9 Sept. 1967. March On Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project<\/em>. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries. Web. 13 Jan. 2011. <http:\/\/collections.lib.uwm.edu\/ u?\/march,666<\/a>>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Halloran, Pam. Interview by Michael Gordon. 16 Aug. 2007. March On Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project<\/em>. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries. Web. 13 Jan. 2011. <http:\/\/collections.lib.uwm.edu\/u?\/ march,1523<\/a>>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WTMJ-TV. News film clip of Martin Luther King speaking at UW-Milwaukee (2 of 2).23 Nov. 1965. March On Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project<\/em>. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries. Web. 13 Jan. 2011. <http:\/\/collections.lib.uwm.edu\/u?\/march,941<\/a>>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MLA directs writers to use parenthetical references in the body of their writing to identify their sources and the specific location in a source from which they borrowed material. See the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers for more information and examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

American Psychological Association (APA)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In your bibliography (which American Psychological Association \u2013 A P A calls the \u201creference list\u201d), state the author, document date (enclosed in parentheses), document title or description, title of the website, publisher of the website, and the reference URL preceded by the phrase \u201cRetrieved from.\u201d Omit the period following the URL. Use square brackets to indicate information that does not appear in the document. American Psychological Association(A P A) instructs writers to include retrieval dates only when the source material may change over time, which is not the case with this digital collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barbee, Lloyd A. (1965, May 2). [Letter to Milwaukee Board of School Directors]. March On Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project<\/em>. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries. Retrieved from http:\/\/collections.lib.uwm.edu\/u?\/ march,206<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fernandez, Ben. (1967, September 9). [Photograph of fair housing demonstration]. March On Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project<\/em>. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries. Retrieved from http:\/\/collections.lib.uwm.edu\/u?\/march,666<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

O\u2019Halloran, Pam. (2007, August 16). Interview by Michael Gordon. March On Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project<\/em>. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries. Retrieved from http:\/\/collections.lib.uwm.edu\/u?\/march,1665<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WTMJ-TV. (1965, November 23). [News film clip of Martin Luther King speaking at UW-Milwaukee (2 of 2)]. March On Milwaukee Civil Rights History Project<\/em>. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries. Retrieved from http:\/\/collections.lib.uwm.edu\/u?\/march,941<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like MLA, American Psychological Association(A P A) directs writers to use parenthetical references in the body of their writing to identify their sources and the specific location in a source from which they borrowed material. See the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association(A P A) for more information and examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Footnotes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>1. Chicago Manual of Style<\/em>, 15th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003), 710-715. Examples also available here<\/a> with campus subscription to the Chicago Manual of Style Online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>2. Note that Chicago<\/em> provides specific guidelines for citing interviews and personal communications (705-707). Examples are available for both unpublished interviews<\/a> and personal communications<\/a> with campus subscription to the Chicago Manual of Style Online.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n