Skip to Main Content

Primary Sources Research Guide

This guide gives information about primary sources and how to locate them in the Library Catalog, our databases, and external sites.

How to Cite Primary Sources

Citing Primary Sources found in the library catalog, our databases or from online sites outside the library

EFSC Librarians have created Citation Research Guides for each Citation Style:

APA Style

MLA Style

Chicago Style

 

Citing Sources Contained in Manuscript Collections

In general, citations for manuscript sources should include the following:

  • author;

  • title;

  • date of publication (or creation, in the case of personal letters);

  • box and file number (if applicable, or if the collection is large);

  • name of collection;

  • name and location of repository.

Your in-text citations should include citations for specific materials you used, such as letters, pamphlets, or reports that are quoted within the paper.  These in-text citations will include only a partial reference source that you used, with a full citation to the original source being listed at the end of the paper (in your Works Cited List). 

** Your citation should include enough information to allow another researcher to locate the original source document. 

 

Citing an archived letter using in-text and Works Cited formats

APA Style

APA, In-Text Note: (Warren, R.P., Warren to Brainard Cheney, November 13, 1939)

APA, Works Cited: Warren, R.P. (1939, November 13).  [Letter to Brainard Cheney].  Brainard and Frances Neel Cheney Papers (Box 16, File 20). Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.

 

Chicago Style

Chicago, in-text note: Robert Penn Warren to Brainard Cheney, 13 November 1939.  Brainard and Frances Neel Cheney Papers, Box 16 File 20,   Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives.  Nashville, Tennessee.

Chicago, Works Cited: Brainard and Frances Neel Cheney Papers.  Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives.  Nashville, Tennessee.

 

MLA Style

MLA, in-text note: Robert Penn Warren, letter to Brainard Cheney, 13 November 1939, Brainard and Frances Neel Cheney Papers, Box 16 File 20, Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.

MLA, Works Cited:  Warren, Robert Penn.  Letter to Brainard Cheney.  13 November 1939.   Brainard and Frances Neel Cheney Papers, Box 16 File 20, Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.

 

Citing Sources Contained in University Archives

Institutional archives are organized into Record Groups, collections of historical documents created by a specific department within the organization.  Each Record Group has a distinctive number and name, example: Record Group 300 Chancellor's Office.  Here are some sample citations for archival material:

APA Style

APA, In-Text Note: (Davidson, D., Davidson to Edwin Mims, August 10, 1950)

APA, Works Cited: Davidson, D. (1950, August 10).  [Letter to Edwin Mims].  Record Group 510 College of Arts and Sciences (Box 2011, File 23). Vanderbilt University Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.

 

Chicago Style

Chicago, in-text note: Donald Davidson to Edwin Mims, 10 August 1935.  Record Group 510 College of Arts and Sciences, Box 2011 File 23, Vanderbilt  University Archives.

Chicago, Works Cited: Record Group 510 College of Arts and Sciences, Box 2011 File 23. Vanderbilt University Archives.  Nashville, Tennessee.

 

MLA Style

MLA, in-text note: Donald Davidson, letter to Edwin Mims, 10 August 1950, Record Group 510 College of Arts and Sciences, Box 2011 File 23, Vanderbilt University Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.

MLA, Works Cited:  Davidson, Donald.  Letter to Edwin Mims.  10 August 1950.   Record Group 510 College of Arts and Sciences, Box 2011 File 23, Vanderbilt University Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.

 

VU Libraries Research Guides are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. You may republish or adapt information from these Guides for educational purposes, as long as proper credit is given. Our recommended credit includes the statement: "Written by, or adapted from, Vanderbilt University Libraries (current as of .....)." If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as our original.