GUIDE TO CITING PRIMARY SOURCES AT THE
EDWARD H. NABB RESEARCH CENTER
FOR DELMARVA HISTORY AND CULTURE
Sometimes deciding how to cite a primary source, particularly unpublished material, may be a bit confusing. Kate Turabian’s A Manual for Writer of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations provides considerable help. You may find it useful to examine citations in the William and Mary Quarterly, a scholarly journal with rigorous editorial standards. Whatever you do, keep two rules in mind: provide sufficient information for a reader to easily locate the source and be consistent. The following examples offer generic formats to use for endnotes and bibliographical citations regarding primary sources found at the Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture.
Find the type of record you are citing in the examples below. Determine if you are using endnotes or bibliography. There you will find the format of the citation information, followed by examples.
Always indent first line of endnote one tab space: every line thereafter begins flush left. The opposite holds true for bibliographical citations; the first line begins flush left and every line thereafter is indented one tab space.
PRIVATE RECORDS
1. Business Records
Endnotes: Item, Name of Collection, Specific Location of the Item within the Collection (either a box and folder number from a manuscript collection or on microfilm), Library, Location of Library.
Account of Wood Sawn, 1816-1822, Jones Milling Company Records, Box 3, Folder 16, Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland.
John Smith, Ledger, vol. X, Smith Papers, microfilm, AW1745, Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland.
Bibliography: Name of Collection. Library, Location of Library.
Jones Milling Company Records, years. Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva
History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland.
If collection is found on microfilm, indicate so as follows:
Jones Milling Company Records, years (microfilm). Edward H. Nabb Research Center
for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland.
2. Correspondence:
Endnotes: Writer to Recipient, date of letter, Name of Collection letter is found in, Box Number, Folder Number (or specific microfilm reel), Library, Location of Library.
Mary Smith to John Jones, 6 February 1788, Smith Family Papers, Box 3, Folder 90.11.02, Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland.
Mary Smith to John Jones, 23 July 1788, Smith Family Papers, microfilm reel 6B, Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland.
If the letter is a typescript, this should be indicated in parentheses after the date.
Bibliography: Name of Collection, Library, Location of Library.
Smith Family Papers (if viewed on microfilm, this must be indicated by writing
microfilm in parentheses after the name of the collection). Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland.
If the letter is a typescript, this should be indicated in parentheses after the date.
3. Diary
Endnotes: Name of Diarist (First then Last), Diary for (years), date of entry, Name of Collection, Box Number, Folder Number, Library, Location of Library.
Clara Gunby, Diary for 1853 to 1865 (if the diary being used has been transcribed, indicate so here, i.e. Transcribed by Mel Toadvine), 7 September 1854, Polly White Burnett Collection, Box Two, Folder 92.09.03.01-92.09.03.97, Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland.
If the information cited was not found in a folder, indicate so as follows: [no folder].
If the information was found on microfilm, specify microfilm reel from which the information was derived.
Joseph Smith, Diary for 1877 to 1889, 16 June 1879, Thomas Fisher Papers, microfilm reel 14, 566-67, Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland.
If the diary is a typescript, it should be indicated as such after the date of entry in the endnote.
Bibliography: Name of Collection. Library, Location of Library.
Smith Family Papers. Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and
Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland. (If collection was viewed on
microfilm, indicate this by writing the word microfilm in parentheses after the
name of the collection).
PUBLIC RECORDS
1. Census Schedules
Endnotes:
U.S. Census, Type of Schedule, County, State, Year (microfilm), Nations Archives, Washington, D.C.
Bibliography:
United States Bureau of the Census, Type of Schedule, County State, years (microfilm).
National Archives, Washington, D.C.
2. Deeds and Land Patents
deeds:
Endnotes: County Land Records, years, liber and folio number, Office Recorded, Location of Courthouse, (microfilm, specific reel number of microfilm, Library, Location of Library).
Somerset County Land Records, 1825-1827, GH3, 15, Clerk of the Court, Somerset County Courthouse, Princess Anne, Maryland (microfilm, CR 7654, Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland).
Bibliography: County Land Records. Office Recorded, Location of Courthouse.
Somerset County, Land Records. Clerk of the Court, Somerset County Courthouse,
Princess Anne, Maryland.
Land Patents:
Endnotes: Colonial Land Office, Patent Records, years, liber, folio (microfilm, specific reel number of microfilm, library, location of library).
Maryland Land Office, Patent Record, 1672-1677, 15, 245 (microfilm, SR7462, Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland).
Bibliography: Office where recorded, title of document (microfilm). Library, Location of Library.
Maryland Land Office, Land Patent (microfilm). Edward H. Nabb Research Center for
Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland.
3. Probate - Will
For Wills found in County Court Records:
Endnotes: Decedent, Will, county will book, year(s), liber and folio numbers, Office Recorded, Location of Courthouse (microfilm, number of reel of microfilm, Library, Location of Library).
William Cottman, Will, Worcester County Will Book, 1800-1819, EB15, 345, Register of Wills, Worcester County Courthouse, Snow Hill, Maryland (microfilm, WK 778-779, Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland).
Bibliography: County Probate Records. Office Recorded, Location.
Worcester County Probate Records. Register of Wills, Worcester County Courthouse,
Snow Hill, Maryland.
For wills found in Prerogative Court Records:
Endnotes: Decedent, Maryland Prerogative Court Wills, year(s), liber, folio, (microfilm, specific reel number of microfilm, library, location of library).
Thomas Hampton, Maryland Prerogative Court wills, 1802-1810, 44, 153 (microfilm, SR 4410, Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland).
Bibliography: Office where will recorded (microfilm). Library, Location of Library.
Wills of the Prerogative Court of Maryland (microfilm). Edward H. Nabb Research
Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland.
4. Probate - Inventories
For Inventories found in County Court Records:
Endnotes: Decedent, Probate Inventory, year(s), liber and folio numbers, Office Recorded, Location (microfilm, specific number of reel of microfilm, Library, Location of Library).
William Cottman, Probate Inventory, 1800-1810, EB26, 108, Register of Wills, Dorchester County Courthouse, Cambridge Maryland (microfilm, WK 786-87, Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland).
Bibliography: County Probate Records. Office Recorded, Location.
Dorchester County Probate Records. Register of Wills, Dorchester County Courthouse,
Cambridge, Maryland.
For Inventories found in Maryland Prerogative Court Records:
Endnotes: Decedent, Maryland Prerogative Court Inventories, year(s), liber, folio (microfilm. Specific reel number of microfilm, library, location of Library).
Robert King, Maryland Prerogative Court Inventories, 1686-1698, 6, 87 (microfilm, SR4323, Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland).
Bibliography: Office where Inventories recorded (microfilm). Library, Location of Library.
Inventories of the Prerogative Court of Maryland (microfilm). Edward H. Nabb Research
Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury Maryland.
5. Judicial Records
Endnotes: Individual involved in case, title of Legal Proceeding, Year(s) case heard, Courthouse where case heard, Location of Courthouse by County, City, State/Colony (microfilm, specific number of microfilm reel, Library, Location of Library).
William Custis, Order, 1671/72, Accomack County Courthouse, Accomack, Virginia (microfilm, CR 55, 286, Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland).
Bibliography: County Judicial Records. Office Recorded, Location.
Accomack County Judicial Records. Clerk of the Court, Accomack County Courthouse,
Accomack, Virginia.
If using a transcription of the judicial records, follow the following format:
Endnote: Individual(s) Involved in Case, Title of Legal Proceeding, year(s) case heard, in Name of Transcriber, Title of Judicial Records Transcribed (title should include County/State and Years), then in parentheses the place of publication; publisher, year of publication, followed by a comma and page number.
Thomas Hampton, Order, 1708, in Frank V. Walczyk, trans., Somerset County Maryland Judicial Records, 1707-1711, Part I, 1707-1708 (Coram, NY: Peters Row, 1997), 183-84
Bibliography: Name of Transcriber. Title of Judicial Records Transcribed. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year.
Walczyk, Frank V., trans. Somerset County Maryland Judicial Records, 1675-78. Coram, NY: Peters Row, 1998
6. Tax Records
Endnotes: Place and Taxes for Year (microfilm), Location
Somerset County Tax Records for 1830 (microfilm), Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland.
Bibliography: Place of Tax Records. Location
Somerset County Tax Records(microfilm). Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland).
7. 1798 Direct Tax
Endnote:
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, Surveyor of the Revenue, Region Direct Tax Census, 1798, Location of Schedule, City, State (microfilm, Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland).
Bibliography:
United States. Secretary of the Treasury. Region direct Tax Census, 1798. City, State (microfilm). Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland.
OTHER SOURCES
1. Maps
Endnotes: Name of map, date, number of map (library, location of library).
A Map of Virginia and Maryland, 1676, 96.32.68A (Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland).
Bibliography: Name of map, date. Number of map. Library, Location of Library.
A Map of Virginia and Maryland, 1676, 96.32.68A(Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland).
2. Photograph
Endnote: Subject, date Collection, Library, Location of Library.
Rockawalkin Church Anniversary Quilt Photograph, 22 April 1946, Women’s Voices Quilt Collection, Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland.
Bibliography: Collection. Library, Location of Library.
Women’s Voices Quilt Collection. Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland.
3. Unpublished Interview
Endnote: Interviewee, interviewed by name of interviewer, date, place of interview, medium, Collection, Library, Location of Library.
Edith Bunker, interview by William Shatner, 31 October 1994, Salisbury, Maryland, tape recording, Women’s Voices Quilt Collection, Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland.
Bibliography: Interviewee. Interview by name, date, place. Medium. Collection, Library, Location of Library.
Bunker, Edith. Interview by William Shatner, 31 October 1994, Salisbury, Maryland. Tape Recording. Women’s Voices Quilt Collection, Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland.
If the unpublished interview is conducted by the writer of the paper, state as follows: interview by author. In this instances, unless the author of the article has given the interview to a library, the writer should indicate that the interview is in the “possession of the author” (see Turabian 11.50).
Endnote:
Mayor Bill Martin of Crisfield, interview by author, 30 September 1986, Crisfield, Maryland, possession of author.
Bibliography:
Mayor Bill Martin of Crisfield. Interview by Author, 30 September 1986, Crisfield, Maryland. Tape Recording. Possession of Author.
When citing a transcript of an interview, write transcript to indicate medium. With regard to note and bibliography format for published interviews as well as unpublished interviews not found at the Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, see Turabian 11.48 and 11.49
4. Archives of maryland
Endnote: Name of Editor (first then last) of specific volume cited, ed., Full Title of Volume Cited, then in parentheses list city of publisher: name of publisher, and date volume being cited was published, comma after closed parentheses followed by volume number in roman numerals: page(s) from which information was derived.
Bernard Steiner, ed., Archives of Maryland: Proceedings and Acts of the General Assembly of Maryland, 1715-1716 (Baltimore, MD: Maryland Historical Society, 1910), XXX:244.
Bibliography: Name of first editor of the Collection (last, first), et al. (meaning “and others”) name of collection. Total number of volumes in the collection. City of publisher: name of publisher from first volume of the collection, dates of publication for the first and the last volumes of the collection.
Browne, William Hand, et al., eds. Archives of Maryland. 72 vols. Baltimore, MD: Maryland Historical Society, 1883-1972.
If you are using the online version of the Archives of Maryland, follow the same format as above, but add the words “Archives of Maryland Online” and the date you accessed the site.
5. Laws of maryland, 1637-1763
Endnote: Name of Law, Chapter Number, Full Title of Session, Year,” in Name of Compiler (first, last), Title of Book, Publisher, Date of Publication. Since there is no publisher listed and no definite date of publication listed for this particular source, place that information in brackets as shown in example.
“An Act for the Ease of the Inhabitants in Examining Evidence relating to the Bounds of Lands; and in the Manner of obtaining Injunctions, Chap. VIII, At a Session of the Assembly begun and held at the City of Annapolis, on the 23rd day of September, and ended on the 26th Day of October, in the 9th Year of the Dominion of the Right Honorable Charles, absolute Lord and Proprietory of the Providence of Maryland and Avalon, Lord Baron of Baltimore, &c. Annoq; Domini 1723, the following Laws were Enacted,” in Thomas Bacon, comp., Laws of Maryland, 1637-1763 [n.p., 1763].
Bibliography:
Name of Compiler (last, first). Name of Book. Publisher, Date of Publication
Bacon, Thomas, comp. Laws of Maryland, 1637-1763 [n.p., 1763].