Citation Style Guide

Citing Archives, Oral Histories and Cultural Sources

Heritage writing about the Southwest often draws on material that does not fit neatly into standard book or journal formats. Letters held in a state archive, a photograph in a museum collection, a recorded interview or a mission register all need references that let another reader find the same item again. The general rule is to move from the largest unit to the smallest: name the repository, then the collection, then the box, folder or item number, and finally a short description of the document itself, including its date if known.

Archival and manuscript material

When you cite an archival item, record the collection name exactly as the repository gives it, along with any finding-aid or accession number. If a document is undated, say so with "n.d." rather than guessing, and if you have estimated a date from context, put it in square brackets and explain your reasoning in a note. Material consulted in our own Archives section should still be traced back to its original holding institution wherever possible.

Oral histories and community knowledge

Interviews and spoken accounts deserve the same care as printed sources. Note the speaker (where they have agreed to be named), the interviewer, the date and place of the conversation, and where any recording or transcript is kept. Some Pueblo and other Indigenous communities regard certain ceremonies, songs and places as private knowledge. Respect those limits. Do not describe or cite restricted material, even if it has appeared in older publications, and attribute shared knowledge to the community rather than to an individual when that is the community's preference.

Translations, place names and older spellings

Spanish colonial records and early Anglo-American accounts often use spellings that differ from current usage. Quote the original spelling exactly, then give the modern form in brackets the first time it appears. If you translate a passage yourself, say so in the citation. If you rely on a published translation, cite the translator as well as the original author.

Before you submit

• Check every quotation against its source.
• Confirm that URLs still work, and note an archived copy if a page has moved.
• Keep your research notes, so editors can verify difficult references.

For background reading on sources we return to often, see the Library. If you have questions about a specific case, use the Contact page.