Citing Archival Sources

Citing Archival Sources

Like any other source, citing an archival source is necessary if you use direct quotes or paraphrase from it in your paper or presentation. However, it can be challenging due to the special nature of archival sources.

Archival sources are original texts, images, recordings, and other materials that have historical significance and are generally unique. Because they are unpublished, they are also often called manuscript collections. Unpublished typewritten documents are generally classified as manuscripts. 

The Oakland University Archives contains archival sources that document the history of the university.

Special Collections hold original materials on Oakland County history, Civil War history, women's studies, and other topics.

Fortunately, there are various resources available to assist you in the process of appropriately crediting your archival sources. This guide will provide resources and examples of how to do this.