Citing records from an archive
Most libraries organize books and journals by their subjects. The call number on a volume denotes a specific subject. Books have page numbers and indexes; journals have volume numbers, pages, and dates. This means another person can easily locate passages that you cite in them.
Archives, however, organize records by the agent responsible for their creation or compilation: for example, an office, a committee, or a person. Only rarely do archives use a subject-based organization. When you cite archival materials, therefore, you need to identify:
1) The item: a report, a letter, etc.
2) The agent (a person, a committee, or an office).
3) The collection and file where the item is located.
Some examples:
Office records
James. L Price to Douglas M. Knight, Memorandum. June 27, 1965.
In: Duke University. President Douglas M. Knight. Records. Subject files: Dept. of Religion, 1964-1969.
Committee reports (unnamed author)
"Final Report, Curriculum Committee, Undergraduate Faculty Council, Duke University. 14 May 1964"
In: Duke University Undergraduate Faculty Council Records. Minutes, May 16, 1964
Personal papers
Walter Heitler to Fritz London. Letter. September 10, 1926.
In: Fritz London. Papers. Correspondence file, 1932.
Remember: a good citation contains enough information to enable another person to find the item you're citing. See also the Library's page, How to Find Citation Guides.
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