Citing religious records from an archive

By mbcross on Thu, 07/13/2023 - 09:31

Forums

I have been researching a nun in my family and have been in email correspondence with an archivist at the Dominican Sisters of Houston. Because she has attached separate documents, I want to cite the documents separately, but I'm not sure precisely how and can't seem to find the appropriate section in EE.

For example, I received an autobiography and am thinking the citation should look something like this:

"Still, Sr. M. Dominic,"; autobiography, MEM-332; Former sisters' personal papers, 1875-2016; Dominican Sisters of Houston, Houston.  

Thanks!

Submitted byEEon Fri, 07/14/2023 - 09:04

mbcross, you've done well. If I interpret your details correctly, you have a document from an archive. You have an image copy of the actual document, not just extracts in a letter from an archive. You are also blessed that the archives staffer who responded to your request identified for you the "path" through which the document is found in the archives. Therefore, you have all essentials for a citation:

  • name of person
  • identity of document
  • collection in which the document is housed
  • (and, of course) identity and location of archives

The "appropriate section" of EE is Chapter 3: Archives and Artifacts. Specifically: EE 3.14 "Basic Format: Documents."  You might also want to add a sentence to your citation in your working notes, to say how you acquired this. The QuickCheck Models on pp. 112–13 of the 3d edition revised, provide patterns for citing correspondence by postal mail or e-mail.