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How to Cite Materials from the OSU Archives

As with citing references to any other source, whether it be a published book or journal article, the primary purposes are to give credit where credit is due and to provide enough information about the source so that it is accessible to anyone wishing to locate or use it.

There are numerous standards used to form citations (both in footnotes and bibliographies) to materials found in archives and manuscript repositories.  Often these are described under "public documents" or "unpublished materials."  Depending on your discipline, follow the appropriate style guidelines when citing sources (i.e. APA, Chicago, MLA, or Turabian).

Below are several examples of information you would need for a basic citation.

Memorabilia Collection

Include the folder title in the citation.

Example: Memorabilia Collection (MC-Trysting Tree), Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

Photographs

Include the photo number for individually numbered images or the folder title for un-numbered images.  Also include the photographer's name if available.

Examples:

Beaver Yearbook Photographs (P3:5355, photograph by Fred Straus), Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

Gifford Photographic Collection (P 218; 14416, photograph by Benjamin A. Gifford), Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

Harriet's Photographic Collection (# 492), Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

Institutional Records

Include information about the record group, the subgroup (if applicable), and series.  If the citation is to microfilmed records, include the microfilm reel and folder numbers.

Examples:

President's Office Records (RG 13; Subgroup 12, Annual and Biennial Reports; II. Biennial Report Preparation Papers), Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon. 

Board of Regents Records (RG 8; II. Minutes); Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

Science Research Institute Records (RG 14; I. General Correspondence; reel 2, folder26); Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon.

Manuscript Collections

Include the collection title and information about the series. If the citation is to microfilmed records, include the microfilm reel and folder numbers. 

Examples:

M. Ellwood Smith Papers (II. Publications and Reports), Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon. 

E.E. Wilson Papers (Subgroup 4, Game Commission; III. Game Birds), Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon. 

Phi Kappa Phi-OSU Chapter Records (Microfilmed Records; I. General Subject File; reel 2, folder 28), Oregon State University Archives, Corvallis, Oregon. 

Outside Resources for Citation Guidance

Concordia University: Citation and Style Guides

Dartmouth College: Sources: Their Use and Acknowledgement

Duke University: Assembling a List of Works Cited in Your Paper

Questions?

Please e-mail archives@oregonstate.edu if you have any questions.