Getting Started with Archives and Special Collections

The photograph shown below is found in one of the many collections from the UC Merced's Archives and Special Collections

Collection: Merced County, UC Cooperative Extension Records

Series: Photographs and Audiovisual Material

Subseries: Agricultural and Historical Photographs

Box: 22

File: Large group posing underneath 'Merced Gateway to Yosemite National Park' sign

URL Link: https://calisphere.org/item/ark:/86071/d25x04/

Archive Name: UC Merced Library's Archives and Special Collections

Correctly citing a primary source document from an archives depends greatly on course requirement, the publication to which you are submitting an article, or the discipline in which you are working. Below are three examples on how to format your document using the American Psychological Association (APA), the Modern Language Association (MLA), and the Chicago Manual of Style.

Using the above photograph as an example, here is how to properly cite it in the three most common citation style guides:

American Psychological Association:

Author last name, First Initial. (year month day). Title [Description of material]. Name of collection (Collection number or identifier, Box number, Folder number). Name of repository, Location of repository. Retrieved from URL if applicable.

In-text Citation Basic Format
(Author's Last Name(s) or Organization, Year)

Modern Language Association:

Author Last Name, First Name Middle Name or Initial. Title or description of material. Day month year. Collection Name. Collection identifier, Box number, Folder number. Name of repository, Location of repository. URL.

Chicago Manual of Style:

[Title or Description of Item],[Date].[Name of Collection][Collection Identifier] (Box Number, Folder Name). Name of Repository, Location of Repository. URL.