Most historians and archivists use Chicago Style for citations, references, and bibliographic data in their scholarly work. When in doubt, refer to the Chicago Manual of Style. This webpage is not intended to be a comprehensive guide to citations but addresses common materials found in the archives.

The following is courtesy of The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition and are solely examples of Bibliographic entries:

If you wish to cite properly in footnote/endnote format or in a reference list, use the The Chicago Manual of Style or another style manual.

Examples of Citations:

Conference Proceedings

Author, Title, Publication, Pagination, Place of Publication, Publisher, Date.


Jones, John W. "The Eugenics Debate." in Proceedings of the NAD Convention, 1889, 118-121.
New York: New York Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, 1890.

Letters and other Communications in Published Collections

Sender and Recipient, date, place where prepared, (if not a letter, must specify material), then the Book where the letter/communication was published, and which page the letter appears in the book.


Josberg to Anna Smith, Los Angeles, 21 May 1937, in Letters of Olof Josberg, 1890-1968, ed.
Michael Huffy. Washington, DC: Gallaudet University Press, 2004, 117.

Manuscript Collections

Name of the Collection, Repository, and Location.


Schowe, Benjamin. Papers. Gallaudet University Archives. Washington, DC.
Terry, Alice T. Biographical File. Gallaudet University Archives. Washington, DC.

Unpublished Letter

Name of Sender to Recipient, Date, Collection, Repository, Location


Hanson, Olof. Letter to Agatha Hanson dated October 3 1980. Olof Hanson Papers. Gallaudet University Archives, Washington, DC.
(If author is unknown, put Unknown in lieu of author name.)