primary source bibliography chicago

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Chicago Style: Citing Primary Sources

The Chicago Manual of Style does not provide one prescriptive means by which to cite all primary sources. Thus, when you cite primary sources you need to consider carefully the type of source you are citing and the way in which you are accessing that source.

Sometimes, you would cite a primary source in the same way that you would cite a source written today. For example, there is no difference in citing a book or newspaper article written 100 years ago and one written last year.

However, often you will want to cite primary sources that have been reprinted in books or websites. When you do, it is essential that you make clear to your reader information about both the original source and the book, webpage, or archive from which you accessed it. In documenting the original source, you need to include who wrote the original source, what kind of source it is (diary, letter, memorandum, etc.), and the date the original source was written. When documenting how you accessed the source, you must provide publication information for a book, a URL for a website, or a location for an archive. 

Primary Sources Published in Edited Collections

Primary sources from the web, primary sources from archival collections.

You may find valuable primary sources from the past published in modern edited collections. In this case, it is important to let your reader know the following information: 1) who wrote the original source 2) what kind of source it is (a letter, a diary passage, a newspaper article, a memorandum, etc. 3) when the source was originally written 4) information about the book in which the source was reprinted.

To find answers to these questions, you will need to look carefully at the edited collection. Some edited collections will provide a bibliographic entry for the original primary source at the beginning or end of the source. Other collections will incorporate this information into a written editor’s note preceding or following the source. Some sources will have all of the information you need to create a citation, while others may be missing an author or date.

Example 1: All information available

The following source, a memorandum written by a German government official contains all of the needed information:

First Footnote

1. Fritz-Dietlof von der Schulenburg, memorandum, September 1937, in Documents on Nazism, 1919-1945 , ed. Jeremy Noakes and Geoffery Pridham (New York: Viking Press, 1974), 258.

Subsequent Footnotes

2. von der Schulenburg, memorandum, 259.

Bibliography

von der Schulenburg, Fritz-Dietlof. Memorandum, September 1937. In Documents on Nazism, 1919-1945 , edited by Jeremy Noakes and Geoffery Pridham, New York: Viking Press, 1974.

Example 2: Some information missing

You may also come across sources that do not have an author. For example, the following source, a piece of legislation passed in Germany as the Nazis were consolidating their power, does not have a particular author.

1. Law for the Re-establishment of the Civil Service, April 7, 1933, in Documents on Nazism, 1919-1945 , ed. Jeremy Noakes and Geoffery Pridham (New York: Viking Press, 1974), 228.

2. Law for the Re-establishment of the Civil Service, 220.

Law for the Re-establishment of the Civil Service. April 7, 1933. In Documents on Nazism, 1919-1945 , edited by Jeremy Noakes and Geoffery Pridham, New York: Viking Press, 1974.

Many types of primary sources can be found on the web. These sources are cited differently depending on the type of source you are citing and the website from which you retrieved the source. In order to determine how to cite a primary source from the web, you need to consider the following questions: 1) Who wrote the original source? 2) What kind of source is it (a letter, a diary passage, a newspaper article, a memorandum etc.)? 3) When was the source originally written? 4) From what webpage did you access the source?

Example 1: Online Database - Newspaper article

For example, if you access a newspaper article published in the past using an online database, you would cite that source in the same way that you would a newspaper article written today .

1. Frances Balfour, “Women’s Place in the New Order,” Times (UK), 27 April 1921, http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&user...

 Subsequent Footnotes

2. Balfour, “Women’s Place in the New Order.”

Balfour, Frances. “Women’s Place in the New Order.” Times (UK), 27 April 1921. http://find.galegroup.com/ttda/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=TTDA&user...

Example 2: Online Repository - Letter

If you access a source from an online repository, such as the National Archives or Canadian Mysteries , you would cite the source according to its type (letter, diary entry, article) but also add information about the website from which you accessed the source.

1. Alan H. Ross to Blodwen Davies, Letter, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, June 1, 1930, Canadian Mysteries , https://www.canadianmysteries.ca/sites/thomson/investigations/1918-1932/... .

2. Ross to Blodwen Davies.

Ross, Alan. Alan H. Ross to Blodwen Davies, June 1, 1930. From Canadian Mysteries , https://www.canadianmysteries.ca/sites/thomson/investigations/1918-1932/... .

For extended research projects, you may choose to visit an archive. When footnoting sources that you retrieved from archival collections, you need to provide information about the source you are citing (author, type of source, date) as well as how to locate that source within the archive, including information about the archival collection and the specific box and folder in which you found the source. In your first footnote to an archival collection, you should provide its full name and location. In later footnotes to sources from the same collection, you can use an abbreviated name and you do not need to include a location.

In your bibliography, you should provide information about the archival collection as a whole rather than including an entry for each specific source.

1. James Bridges, “Eyewitness,” script, first draft with revisions, 1977, 5, in box 22B, folder 17, Michael Douglas Papers, 1934-1980, Wisconsin Center for Film and Theatre Research, Madison, WI (hereafter MDP).

Subsequent Footnote for this Source

2. Bridges, “Eyewitness,” 7.

Subsequent Footnotes to Other Sources from the Same Collection

3. Mike and Carol Gray, “The China Syndrome,” script, third draft, October 26, 1975, 60, copy in box 22B, folder 15, MDP.

Michael Douglas Papers. Wisconsin Center for Film and Theatre Research, Madison, WI.

Additional Resources

The following documents provide further or more information on how to cite archival collections:

• Guide to Citing Archival Records. Archives of Ontario. Customer Service Guide 107.
• How to Cite Archival Sources. Library and Archives Canada

Chicago Citation Guide (17th Edition): Primary Sources

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Art object - image from a book, art object - image from an online source, historical map from a book, historical map from a journal article, historical map from an online collection, historical newspaper article from a library database, historical newspaper article from a website, oral history from an online collection, historical letter from an online archive.

1. Creator's First Name Last Name,  Title of Artwork , Date of Creation, Other relevant information such as size or medium [if known], Location of Artwork, in  Title of Book: Subtitle if Any ,   Edition if given and is not first edition, by Textbook Author's First Name Last Name (Place of publication: Publisher, Year), Page Number.

Bibliography Entry:

Creator's Last Name, First Name.  Title of Artwork , Date of Creation, Other relevant information such as size or medium [if relevant], Location of Artwork. In  Title of Book: Subtitle if Any.  Edition if given and is not first edition, by Textbook Author's First Name Last Name, Page Range of Chapter or Part. Place of publication: Publisher, Year.

1. Creator's First Name Last Name,  Title of Artwork , Date of Creation, Other relevant information such as size or medium [if known], Location of Artwork, accessed Access Date, URL.

Creator's Last Name, First Name.  Title of Artwork , Date of Creation, Other relevant information such as size or medium [if known], Location of Artwork. Accessed Access Date. URL.

1. Map Author's First Name Last Name, Title of Map , Scale [if given], in  Title of Book: Subtitle if Any ,   Edition if given and is not first edition, by Textbook Author's First Name Last Name (Place of publication: Publisher, Year), Page Number.

Map Author's Last Name, First Name.  Title of Map . Scale [if given]. In  Title of Book: Subtitle if Any.  Edition if given and is not first edition, by Textbook Author's First Name Last Name, Page Range of Chapter or Part. Place of publication: Publisher, Year.

 Maps may have corporate rather than individual authors (such as Centre for Topographic Mapping). In this case, you do not invert the name in the bibliography entry.

1. Map Author's First Name Last Name,  Title of Map , Scale [if given], in "Title of Article," by Author's First Name Last Name,  Name of Journal  Volume Number, no. Issue Number (Date of Publication): Page Number of Exact Citation, https://doi.org/DOI Number or Name of Database.

Map Author's Last Name, First Name.  Title of Map . Scale [if given]. In "Title of Article," by Author's First Name Last Name.  Name of Journal  Volume Number, no. Issue Number (Date of Publication): First Page Number of Article-Last Page Number of Article. https://doi.org/DOI Number or Name of Database.

1. Map Author's First Name Last Name,  Title of Map , Scale [if given], "Title of Website," Publication Date, accessed Access Date, URL.  

Map Author's Last Name, First Name.  Title of Map . Scale [if given]. "Title of Website." Publication Date. Accessed Access Date. URL.

1. Author's First Name Last Name, "Title of Article,"  Name of Newspaper  (City and Province/State of Publication, if not Included in Name), Date of Publication, https://doi.org/DOI Number or Name of Database.

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article."  Name of Newspaper  (City and Province/State of Publication, if not Included in Name) ,  Date of Publication. https://doi.org/DOI Number or Name of Database.

1. Author's First Name Last Name, "Title of Article,"  Name of Newspaper  (City and Province/State of Publication, if not Included in Name), Date of Publication, URL.

Author's Last Name, First Name. "Title of Article."  Name of Newspaper  (City and Province/State of Publication, if not Included in Name) ,  Date of Publication. URL.

Footn ote: 

1. First name Last name of Person Being Interviewed (Identifying Information), interview by First name Last name of Interviewer, Date of Interview, Location where transcript or recording may be found, URL.

Last name, First name of Person Being Interviewed. Interview year. (Identifying Information). Interview by First name Last name of Interviewer, Month and Day of Interview, Location where transcript or recording may be found. URL.

1. Sender's First Name Last Name to First Name Last Name of Recipient, Date of Letter, Series Title [if provided], Name of Collection, Name of Archive, URL.

Sender's Last name, First name.  Title . Name of Collection. Name of Archive. URL. Date of Letter.

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Chicago Format & Citation Style: Notes and Bibliography, 17th Edition

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Primary Source within a Secondary Source

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FOOTNOTE format and examples:

1 Author's first name last name, description of primary source, Date, in Title of Secondary Source in Italics , ed. Editor's first name last name (Place of publication: Publisher, Year), inclusive pages.

2 Paulina Jackson to John Pepys Junior, October 3, 1676, in The Letters of Samuel Pepys and His Family Circle , ed. Helen Truesdell Heath (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1955), 43-44.

3 Jackson, letter to Pepys, 47.

BIBLIOGRAPHY format and example:

Author's last name, first name. Description of primary source, Date. In Title of Secondary Source in Italics , edited by Editor's first name last name. Place of publication: Publisher, Year.

Jackson, Paulina. Letter to John Pepys Junior, October 3, 1676. In The Letters of Samuel Pepys and His Family Circle , edited by Helen Truesdell Heath. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1955.

1 Author's first name last name, description of item/document, Date, Name of Collection, Name of Institution and Location.

2 Joseph Dinkel, description of Louis Agassiz written at the request of Elizabeth Cary Agassiz, n.d, Louis Agassiz Papers, Houghton Library, Harvard University.

3 Dinkel, description of Agassiz.

4 George Creel to Colonel House, 25 September 1918, Edward M. House Papers, Yale University Library, New Haven, CT.

5 Creel, letter to House.

Author's last name, first name. Description of Item/Document. Date. Name of Collection. Name of Institution and Location.

Creel, George. Letter to Colonel House. September 25, 1918. Edward M. House Papers. Yale University Library, New Haven, CT.

Dinkel, Joseph. Description of Louis Agassiz written at the request of Elizabeth Cary Agassiz, n.d. Louis Agassiz Papers. Houghton Library, Harvard University.

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Chicago-Style Citation Quick Guide

Chicago-style source citations come in two varieties: (1) notes and bibliography and (2) author-date. If you already know which system to use, follow one of the links above to see sample citations for a variety of common sources. If you are unsure about which system to use, read on.

Notes and Bibliography or Author-Date?

The notes and bibliography system is preferred by many working in the humanities—including literature, history, and the arts. In this system, sources are cited in numbered footnotes or endnotes. Each note corresponds to a raised (superscript) number in the text. Sources are also usually listed in a separate bibliography. The notes and bibliography system can accommodate a wide variety of sources, including unusual ones that don’t fit neatly into the author-date system.

The author-date system is more common in the sciences and social sciences. In this system, sources are briefly cited in the text, usually in parentheses, by author’s last name and year of publication. Each in-text citation matches up with an entry in a reference list, where full bibliographic information is provided.

Aside from the use of numbered notes versus parenthetical references in the text, the two systems share a similar style. Follow the links at the top of this page to see examples of some of the more common source types cited in both systems.

Most authors choose the system used by others in their field or required by their publisher. Students who are unsure of which system to use will find more information here .

For a more comprehensive look at Chicago’s two systems of source citation and many more examples, see chapters 14 and 15 of The Chicago Manual of Style.

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Citing primary sources: Chicago/Turabian (17th ed.) citation guide

On this page, letter found in an archive, oral history, paintings, photographs, and sculpture, newspaper article, missing information.

This guide is based on The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th ed. It provides examples of citations for commonly-used sources, using Notes and bibliography style only . For more detailed information consult directly The Chicago Manual of Style  (17th ed.) [ print ]. 

For the Author-date style, see the  Social sciences/sciences system .

More guidelines for citing this type of material can be found in section 14.228 .

     1. Curtis to Mr. W. H. M. Haldane, 1940-1949, The Chung Collection, University of British Columbia Rare Books and Special Collections, Box 197, 197-11-3.

     2. Brown to Donald M. Forbes, August 5, 1864, Pre-1914 collections, The Canadian Letters & Images Project, https://www.canadianletters.ca/content/document-4694?position=24&list=e-uq80kpaft_JeHiESbheGdkbIPqGhSSwm8dtxb5ezw.

Bibliography

Sender's Last name, First name. Title . Name of Collection (if provided). Name of the archive/depository (if provided). File number (if provided), and/or other identifying information as provided. Publication/creation date.

Curtis, M. Louise. Three Letters to Mr. W. H. M. Haldane . The Chung Collection. University of British Columbia Rare Books and Special Collections. Box 197, 197-11-3. 1940-1949.

Brown, J. N. Forbes, Donald M. Letter: 1864 August 5th. Pre-1914 collections. The Canadian Letters & Images Project, https://www.canadianletters.ca/content/document-4694?position=24&list=e-uq80kpaft_JeHiESbheGdkbIPqGhSSwm8dtxb5ezw.

More guidelines for citing this type of material can be found in section 14.211 .

     1. Nancy Leone (Japanese Canadian), interview by Kirsten McAllister, July 18, 1990, Japanese Canadian Oral History Collection, Simon Fraser University Library, https://digital.lib.sfu.ca/johc-167/interview-nancy-leone.

Interviewee's Last name, First name. Interview year. (Identifying information). Interview with/interview by/discussion with interviewer's First name Last Name. Interview Month Day. Location where transcript or recording may be found. URL [if necessary).

Leone, Nancy. 1990. (Japanese Canadian). Interview by Kirsten McAllister. July 18. Japanese Canadian Oral History Collection. Simon Fraser University Library. https://digital.lib.sfu.ca/johc-167/interview-nancy-leone.

More guidelines for citing this type of material can be found in section 14.235 .

To cite a painting:

     1. Lui Shou Kwan, Taiwan Landscape—Ali Shan, 1971, ink, pigment on paper, Vancouver Art Gallery.

Creator's Last name, First name. Title of Work . Date of creation. Medium. Location of work. Name of Collection (if available). URL (if consulted online).

Lui, Shou Kwan. Taiwan Landscape—Ali Shan. 1971. Ink, pigment on paper. Vancouver Art Gallery.

To cite a photograph:

     1. Philip Timms, Chinese Business Damaged by Race Riot , 1907, photograph, Simon Fraser University Library, BC Multicultural Photograph Collection at the Vancouver Public Library, https://digital.lib.sfu.ca/vpl-122/chinese-business-damaged-race-riot.

Creator's Last name, First name. Title of Work . Date of creation. Medium. Location of work. Name of Collection (if available). URL (if consulted online.

Timms, Philip. Chinese Business Damaged by Race Riot . 1907. Photograph. Simon Fraser University Library . BC Multicultural Photograph Collection at the Vancouver Public Library. https://digital.lib.sfu.ca/vpl-122/chinese-business-damaged-race-riot.

To cite a sculpture:

     1. Charles Marega, Lions Gate Bridge Lion Maquette , 1938, plaster, 26 x 11 x 43.5 cm, Museum of Vancouver, http://www.museumofvancouver.ca/collections/object/lions-gate-bridge-lion-maquette.

Creator's Last name, First name. Title of Work . Date of creation. Medium, dimensions (if available). Location of work. Name of Collection (if available). URL (if consulted online).

Marega, Charles. Lions Gate Bridge Lion Maquette . 1938. Plaster, 26 x 11 x 43.5 cm. Museum of Vancouver. http://www.museumofvancouver.ca/collections/object/lions-gate-bridge-lion-maquette.

More guidelines for citing this type of material can be found in section 14.191 .

     1. Laurie Goodstein and William Glaberson, "The Well-Marked Roads to Homicidal Rage," New York Times , April 10, 2000.  https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/10/us/the-well-marked-roads-to-homicidal-rage.html

     2. Richard Spencer, "Panda Flees Roof to Roof in China," Vancouver Sun , July 19, 2005, A9.

Last name, First name. "Article Title." Newspaper Title , Month Day, Year, section (for online sources, replace section with URL).

Goodstein, Laurie and William Glaberson. "The Well-Marked Roads to Homicidal Rage." New York Times, April 10, 2000.  https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/10/us/the-well-marked-roads-to-homicidal-rage.html

Spencer, Richard. "Panda Flees Roof to Roof in China." Vancouver Sun , July 19, 2005, A9.

In addition to crediting the ideas and work of others, the purpose of citation is to enable your reader to identify or find the sources you consulted.  In some situations, you may consult primary material that is missing some of the standard means of identification, ie author, title, date, etc.  Use the full Chicago Manual of Style   and adapt the examples above in these cases, and bear in mind your purpose when crafting these citations.

General guidelines

No place of publication ( 14.132 ): Use the abbreviation n.p. (or N.p. if following a period) before the publisher’s name, if the place of publication is unknown. A question mark may be given in brackets, if the place can be surmised.

No date of publication ( 14.145 ): If the publication date of a printed work cannot be ascertained,  use the abbreviation n.d. in the publication details. A guessed-at date may either be substituted in brackets or added.

Unsigned Newspaper articles ( 14.199 ): Unsigned newspaper articles or features are best dealt with in text or notes. Use the title of the newspaper stands in place of the author, if a bibliography entry should be needed.

Pamphlets , reports and the like ( 14.220 ): Provide sufficient information to identify the document even when data on author and publisher may not fit the normal pattern.

For example, here is a citation for an unattributed 1980s concert poster viewed online:

     1. Curious George and Head First, “Curious George with Head First Sat. Jan. 27,” (1988), poster, Vancouver Punk Rock Collection , Simon Fraser University Library, https://digital.lib.sfu.ca/vanpunk-609/curious-george-head-first-sat-jan-27

Curious George and Head First. “Curious George with Head First Sat. Jan. 27.” (1988). Poster. Vancouver Punk Rock Collection . Simon Fraser University Library. https://digital.lib.sfu.ca/vanpunk-609/curious-george-head-first-sat-jan-27

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Citing primary sources.

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Using the example for Chapter or other part of an edited book often works for citing a primary source that is found within a secondary source.

Chapter or other part of an edited book

In a note, cite specific pages. In the bibliography, include the page range for the chapter or part.

1. Henry David Thoreau, “Walking,” in  The Making of the American Essay , ed. John D’Agata (Minneapolis: Graywolf Press, 2016), 177–78.

Shortened note

2. Thoreau, “Walking,” 182.

Bibliography entry

Thoreau, Henry David. “Walking.” In  The Making of the American Essay , edited by John D’Agata, 167–95. Minneapolis: Graywolf Press, 2016.

Here are a few variations for citing primary information in specific situations. If you didn’t hear the speech yourself, you will need to indicate what source the speech came from. If the word speech isn’t designated in the title (like the first McCain example) it is often designated as such after the title with the location and date of the original speech. Citing a speech from anything other than a book is a little more complicated.

Transcript of a speech found in a book

Note    

1. John McCain, "Speech at Des Moines Rotary Lunch" (2007), in Representative American Speeches 2006-2007, ed. Jennifer Curry, Paul McCaffrey, and Lynn Messina (New York: H.W. Wilson, 2007), 47.

Bibliography     

McCain, John. "Speech at Des Moines Rotary Lunch." 2007. In Representative American Speeches 2006-2007, edited by Jennifer Curry, Paul McCaffrey, and Lynn Messina. New York: H.W. Wilson, 2007.

Transcript of a speech found on a website

2. Martin Luther King Jr., "I Have a Dream" (speech, Washington, DC, August 28, 1963), American Rhetoric, http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm .

King, Martin Luther, Jr. "I Have a Dream." Speech, Washington, DC, August 28, 1963. American Rhetoric. http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm .

Transcript of a speech found in a subscription database

3. John F. Kennedy, "Statement on the Creation of the Peace Corps" (speech, Washington DC, March 1, 1961), EBSCO History Reference Center.

Kennedy, John F. "Statement on the Creation of the Peace Corps." Speech, Washington DC, March 1, 1961. EBSCO History Reference Center.

A speech or lecture you heard in person

4. Patrick Dossett, "My Experience as a Navy SEAL" (speech, Atherton, CA, September 20, 2011).

Dossett, Patrick. "My Experience as a Navy SEAL."Speech, Atherton, CA, September 20, 2011.

A classroom presentation or discussion

5. Stephanie Portman, "Global Trade in the 18th Century" (classroom discussion, Modern World History, Atherton, CA, September 22, 2011).

Portman, Stephanie. "Global Trade in the 18th Century." Classroom discussion, Modern World History, Atherton, CA, September 22, 2011.

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Chicago Style: Citing Primary Sources

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Citing Primary Sources from an Archive or Museum

Chicago Citation for Primary Source Materials

Since most researchers working with primary sources, like those found in archives or museums, are from the humanities disciplines, these materials are more typically cited using the Chicago Manual of Style Notes/Bibliography format.  Therefore, the examples presented on this page have been created using the rules outlined in the  Chicago Manual of Style Notes/Bibliography system of citation. To determine how to cite primary sources in another citation style see the larger guide for all  Citation Styles . 

The examples below reflect the most common sources and circumstances encountered by researches in Rollins College Archives. For more information on how to cite other types of primary sources (for example, historic newspapers) please refer to the rules laid our in the Chicago Manual of Style Online . 

The examples below show both a note entry [N] (which could be either a  footnote  or  endnote ) and a bibliographic entry [B] . 

Letter or Memo

The note for a citation to an  unpublished  letter starts with the name of the letter writer, followed by the name of the recipient. Given names may be omitted if the identities of sender and recipient are note present within the text. The word letter is usually omitted - that is, if understood - but other forms of communication (telegram, memorandum) are specified. Take notice that the bibliographic form for a letter cites the entire collection , which is appropriate when more than one item from a collection is cited in the text.

N:  5. Willard Wattles to Hamilton Holt, 25 January 1940, Willard Wattles Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Olin Library, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida.

B:  Wattles, Willard. Papers. Archives and Special Collections. Olin Library, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida.

To cite a published letter, memorandum, or similar communication in a published collection, begin with the names of the sender and the recipient (in that order), followed by a date and sometimes the place where the communication was prepared.  The word letter is unnecessary, but other forms, such as reports or memoranda, should be specified.  The title of the collection is given in the usual form for a book which is italicized .

N:  6. Mary Wollstonecraft to George Blood, 25 August 1786, in  Collected Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft , ed. Ralph M. Wardle (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1979), 111-112.

B:  Wollstonecraft, Mary. Mary Wollstonecraft to George Blood, 25 August 1786. In  Collected Letters of Mary Wollstonecraft , ed. Ralph M. Wardle, no. 37. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1979.

Manuscript or Typescript

Full identification of most unpublished material usually requires giving the title and date of the item, series title (if applicable), name of the collection, and name of the depository. Except for placing the cited item first, there is no general agreement on the sequence of the remaining elements in the citation. Whatever sequence is adopted should be used consistently throughout the paper and as much information as possible should be included in the citation in an effort for transparency. However, sometimes archival resources are missing date, author information, or titles; in those cases the researcher must use due diligence in created as full a citation as possible. 

N:  2.   Dick Banning  manuscript, Rex E. Beach Papers, Box 3, Folder 10-12, Archives and Special Collections, Olin Library, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida.

B:  Beach, Rex E. Papers. Archives and Special Collections, Olin Library, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida.

Photos and Art

Titles of paintings, drawings, statues, and other works of art are italicized, whether the titles are original, added by someone other than the artist, or translated. Titles of photographs are enclosed in quotation marks. Art works typically require dimensional information and media type in the citation whereas archival photographs do not. 

N:  4.  "Portrait of Richard Burton", photograph. Minneapolis: Sweet Studios, c1912. From Archives and Special Collections, Olin Library, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida:  Jessie Belle Rittenhouse papers .

B:  "Portrait of Richard Burton", photograph. Minneapolis: Sweet Studios, c1912. From Archives and Special Collections, Olin Library, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida:  Jessie Belle Rittenhouse papers.

N: 1. Salvador Dalí,  The Persistence of Memory , 1931, oil on canvas, 9½ × 13″ (24.1 × 33 cm), Museum of Modern Art, New York.

B:  Dali, Salvador. The Persistence of Memory . 1931. Oil on canvas, 9½ × 13″ (24.1 × 33 cm). Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Unpublished Thesis or Dissertation

For an unpublished thesis or dissertation include the following: the title, the kind of thesis, the academic institution, and the date. Like the publication date of a book, these are enclosed in parentheses in a note but not in a bibliography or reference list. The word  unpublished  is unnecessary. 

N:  6. Lisa Stronski, "Exploding the canon and illuminating the spitfires : the representation of women in Grimms' fairy tales" (honors thesis, Rollins College, 2002), 56-75.

B:  Mould, Kimberly Thomlinson. "A Portrait in Black and White : The Ideal Woman's Club and the Woman's Club of Winter Park" master's thesis, Rollins College, 2000.

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Primary Sources: Citing Primary Sources in Chicago Style

• Finding Primary Sources Relating to an Individual
• Finding Primary Sources Collected in Books
• Finding Primary Sources in Databases and Finding Newspaper Articles
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• Primary Scientific Sources
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Chicago Style Citations

• Chicago Notes and Bibliography - Sample Citations
• Chicago Author-Date - Sample Citations

For more information on citing in Chicago Notes and Bibliography Style,  please see our main Chicago citation guide , especially the  page about citing nontraditional sources in Chicago style .

Images/Art Found Online

Dior, Christian.  May , 1953. Silk, Length at CB ((a) to waist): 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm) Length at CB (b): 45 1/2 in. (115.6 cm). New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art. Accessed January 5, 2011. http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/80002249.

Footnote: 

               1. Christian Dior,  May , 1953, silk,  Length at CB ((a) to waist): 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm) Length at CB (b): 45 1/2 in. (115.6 cm), New York, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/80002249.

Videos Found Online

CNN. "Stacy Abrams on 2020: You Don't Run for  Second  Place." YouTube  video , 7:37. March 27, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60vRasxAKUY.

              1. "Stacy Abrams on 2020: You Don't Run for Second Place," YouTube video, 7:37, March 27, 2019,  https://ww w.youtube.com/watch?v= 60vRasxAKUY.

Music 

Elgar, Edward. “Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85.”  The Very Best of Jacqueline Du Pre . Performed by Jacqueline Du Pre. EMI Classics 0724358659757, 2008, Naxos streaming audio. https://dickinson.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=77182%2Fdickinsonnml06%2F1693524.

            1. Edward Elgar, "Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85,"  The Very Best of Jacqueline Du Pre , performed by Jacqueline Du Pre, EMI Classics 0724358659757, 2 0 08,  Naxos  streaming audio, https://dickinson.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=77182% 2Fdickinsonnml06 % 2F1693524 .  

Legal Documents

Note : In Chicago Notes and Bibliography Style, legal publications are generally cited only with notes and rarely included in bibliographies. Therefore, the examples here include only the note form. For more information on citing legal publications, see  The Chicago Manual of Style Online's chapter on legal documents  or  our Chicago citation guide , which includes sections on legal documents. The citations for most legal sources in Chicago Style are similar to those in APA Style, because both citation styles use  The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation   for legal sources.

Constitutional amendments :

             1. U.S. Const. art. I,  § 4, cl. 2.

Court decisions : 

             1. United States v. Dennis, 183 F. 201 (2d Cir. 1950).

Other Common Primary Sources

Note : For many more examples of citations for  archival sources in Chicago Notes and Bibliography Style , see the  Dickinson College Archives and Special Collections Primary Source Citation Guide .

Letter in an archive (that you saw in person) :

               1. Amy A. Carothers to Cornelius R. Agnew, 20 June 1876,  IS-MC-001, Box 1, Folder 1, Dickinson College Archives & Special Collections, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA.

Letter in an archive (that you accessed online) : 

             1. Amy A. Carothers to Cornelius R. Agnew, 20 June 1876,  CIS-MC-001, Box 1, Folder 1, Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Center, Dickinson College Archives & Special Collections, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA,   http://carlisleindian.dickinson.edu/documents/ letter-amy-carothers-cornelius-r-agnew

Newspaper article :

"National Convention of the Colored Race."  The Christian Statesman,  October 4, 1883. http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/8HBZX6.

              1. "National Convention of the Colored Race,"  The Christian Statesman,  October 4, 1883, http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/8HBZX6.

For more information on citing in Chicago Author-Date, please see  the page on Author-Date citations in our Chicago Style citation guide . The bibliographic entries for the Author-Date style of Chicago largely follow the same general format of the Notes and Bibliography style, but with the author and the date/year of publication being the first two items. See the following examples for some of the formatting differences.

Dior, Christian. 1953.  May . Silk, Length at CB ((a) to waist): 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm) Length at CB (b): 45 1/2 in. (115.6 cm). New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art. Accessed January 5, 2011. http://www.metmuseum.org/Collections/search-the-collections/80002249.

CNN. 2019. "Stacy Abrams on 2020: You Don't Run for  Second  Place." YouTube  video , 7:37. March 27, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60vRasxAKUY.

Elgar, Edward. 1919. “Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85.”  The Very Best of Jacqueline Du Pre . Performed by Jacqueline Du Pre. EMI Classics 0724358659757, 2008, Naxos streaming audio. https://dickinson.naxosmusiclibrary.com/streamw.asp?ver=2.0&s=77182%2Fdickinsonnml06%2F1693524.

Note : Unless you are citing a large number of legal documents in your paper, you can limit your legal citations to in-text citations and not include them in the reference list. In this case, your in-text citations would be the same as the footnotes if you were working with Chicago Notes and Bibliography Style, so you can follow the examples given in our Chicago citation guide  if you need more help. Examples of in-text citations to legal works are given below. 

(U.S. Const. art. I,  § 4, cl. 2)

(United States v. Dennis, 183 F. 201 (2d Cir. 1950))

The Christian Statesman .  1883. "National Convention of the Colored Race." October 4, 1883. http://tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/8HBZX6.

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The recommendations in this section are based on the Chicago Manual of Style (17th ed.). Harvard Library offers access to the online edition of the CMOS . To access this resource, make sure you log into Hollis with your Harvard key.

No one expects you to memorize the format for every type of source you will cite in Chicago style. Instead, you should know where to look for models of each type of source. This section explains the basics of Chicago-style citations and provides citation examples for some commonly used sources. For more information from the Chicago “Citation Quick Guide,” you should consult the links below:

• Turabian Student Tip Sheets
• Endnotes/footnotes and bibliography style citations
• Parenthetical author-date style citation
• Database of common questions about Chicago style

You can also find the complete Table of Contents for the online version of the Chicago Manual of Style here .

If you are looking for information on how to generate citations using Zotero or other citation software, you can find links to library resources here .

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• Section 14: Notes and Bibliography
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How To Cite Primary Sources?

There is no one rule or set of rules for citing primary sources in the Chicago Manual of Style; the format of the note and bibliographical entry will depend on the type of material from where the source originates. The links below will provide guidance for how to craft citations for primary sources based on type. 

• Newspapers: CMS 14.203-213
• Interviews: CMS 14.218-221
• Letters (published): CMS 14.117
• Letters (unpublished): CMS 14.239
• Pamphlets: CMS 14.249
• Archival material: CMS 14.232-242

Citations from Secondary Sources

While it is generally discouraged, it is possible to cite a source that was quoted in a secondary source. If an original source is otherwise unavailable, it is cited as "quoted in..." and both the original and secondary sources must be listed. If the primary source is fully reproduced, as in a published anthology of sources, it can be cited as you would a chapter or book section; see also instructions for citing letters above.

1. E.E. Cummings, "A Poet's Advice to Students," Ottawa Hills Spectator , October 26, 1955, quoted in George J.  Firmage, ed.,  E.E. Cummings: A Miscellany Revised,  (New York: October House Inc, 1965), 335. 

Cummings, E.E.  "A Poet's Advice to Students." Ottawa Hills Spectator , October 26, 1955, quoted in Firmage,  George J. , ed.  E.E. Cummings: A Miscellany Revised . 335.  New York: October House Inc, 1965.

Legal and public documents

Legal and public documents, including court cases, legislation, and other government documents have special citation forms based on  The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation . CMS accounts for certain basic rules of citation, but defaults to The Bluebook. A copy of this guide is available in the Bates Reference collection on the first floor. 

• Basic rules for legal documents:  CMS 14.281-287
• Court Cases: CMS 14.288-291
• Constitutions: CMS 14.292
• Legislative and Executive Documents: CMS 14.293-304
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😕 What is a Chicago Citation Generator?

A Chicago Citation Generator is a software tool that automatically generates citations and bibliographies in the Chicago citation style.

Citations can be created by entering an identifying piece of information about a source, such as a website URL, book ISBN, or journal article DOI to the generator. The generator will then create a fully formatted citation in the Chicago style containing all the required information for the source.

Chicago style citations are used to give credit to the authors of supporting work that has been used to write an academic paper or article.

👩‍🎓 Who uses an Chicago Citation Generator?

The Chicago style is primarily used by college and university students studying business, history, social sciences, the fine arts, amongst others.

🙌 Why should I use a Chicago Citation Generator?

Citing sources is often an afterthought in paper writing because formatting citations correctly is time-consuming and confusing, and staying on top of source management manually can be hard. A citation generator makes this easier by:

• Decreasing the time you would spend formatting citations correctly
• Managing the recording and organization of every citation for you

In short, there is no reason not to use a citation generator in academic writing.

⚙️ How do I use MyBib's Chicago Citation Generator?

To get started, scroll up back up to the tool at the top of the page and follow these steps:

• Select the type of source you want to cite
• If it's a website, enter the URL in the search bar. If it's a book, enter the ISBN or title. If it's a journal article, enter the DOI or title. For all other sources, enter the details of the source into the form
• Select the search result that most closely represents the source you referred to in your paper
• Shazam! The generator will automatically format the citation in the Chicago style. Copy it into your paper, or save it to your bibliography to download later
• Repeat for every other citation you need to create for your paper

MyBib supports the following for Chicago style:

Daniel is a qualified librarian, former teacher, and citation expert. He has been contributing to MyBib since 2018.

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The ultimate guide to citing anything in chicago style, everything you ever needed to know about citing sources from the chicago manual of style, the basics of citing in chicago style.

The Chicago Manual of Style, currently in its 16th edition, was created to help researchers properly cite their sources. There are two types of referencing styles in Chicago: 1) Notes and Bibliography and 2) Author-Date.

This guide displays the Notes and Bibliography style of referencing and is not associated with the official publishers of the style.

Need help with other styles? Our thorough MLA format and APA format guides are available for all of your writing and citing needs!

Creating a Bibliography in Chicago Style

The bibliography is a list of all the sources used in the paper. The list includes the important publication details of the sources. The bibliography must also follow this format:

• The citation list or bibliography must be single spaced.
• The last names of the authors must be arranged alphabetically.
• The second line of the source must be indented.

Examples of Citing Different Sources in Chicago Style

Generally, Chicago citations require:

• Title of book/article
• Title of newspaper/journal
• Publication year
• Publication month and date
• City of publication
• Date of access
• Page numbers
• URL or Name of Database

How to Create Footnotes and Endnotes for Chicago Style

If you’re wondering how to format Chicago in-text citations, Notes and Bibliography formatting requires writers to use footnotes and endnotes. These footnotes and endnotes acknowledge the different sources used in the work.

When a source is used in a research paper, a roman numeral is placed at the end of the borrowed information as superscript (it is smaller than the normal line of text and raised). That number correlates with a footnote or endnote.

• Footnotes are found at the bottom of the page
• Endnotes are added at the end of the chapter or project
• A footnote or endnote contains the complete citation information
• The matching number in the footnote or endnote is normal sized and not raised
• It is up to the discretion of the writer to either place the citation at the bottom of the page where the superscript is placed (a footnote) or to place all citations together at the end of the work (endnotes)

One would wonder, "Would young Einstein be characterized as belonging somewhere on the autism spectrum? Would Erdos have been given a diagnosis of A.D.H.D.?" ¹

Chicago style footnotes are placed at the bottom of the page:

• Silver, Nate. "Beautiful Minds." The New York Times. July 13, 2013. Accessed August 04, 2015. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/books/review/the-boy-who-loved-math-and-on-a-beam-of-light.html?ref=books&_r=0 .

If a source is used more than once in a research project, follow these guidelines:

• When used again, instead of writing out the complete citation for a second time in the footnote, only include: the author’s last name, the title or a phrase for the title (if it’s more than four words), and the page number(s) that were used. This will reduce the bulk of citation information in the paper.
• Cohen, Micah, "Rubio is Losing Support Among Republican Voters." FiveThirtyEight. July 09, 2013. Accessed August 04, 2015. http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/rubio-is-losing-support-among-republican-voters/
• Wolf, Leon H. "Marco Rubio's Campaign Must Adapt or Die." RedState. August 04, 2015. Accessed August 04, 2015. http://www.redstate.com/2015/08/04/marco-rubios-campaign-must-adapt-die/ .
• Cohen, "Rubio Losing Support"

If a source is used consecutively, follow these guidelines for shortened citation and ibid :

If you are citing the same source continually throughout your text, use a shortened version of the full citation in your footnotes.

Previous versions of the style used the abbreviation “ibid,” short for “ibidem.” Ibidem is a Latin word that means “in the same place.” It was used when referring to a source that was just cited within a document (without other sources in between). Writers would use ibid instead of writing out the source information again. This was meant to save space since it’s fewer characters than citing the source again.

In the current version of Chicago, the 17th version, ibid is accepted but not preferred. This is because ibid requires readers to go back and search for the previous source cited, an inconvenience which outweighs the benefits of shortening the citation. Also, shortened citations are compact, so using ibid doesn’t always save line space.

Shortened citations

The first mention of a source should include all relevant information (e.g., full author name(s), full title, publisher, date published, etc.).

Subsequent mentions should be a shortened version using this formula:

Last Name, Title of the Work , page number(s).

Mentions after the shortened form can use the abbreviated formula:

Last Name, page number(s).

If there are two or three authors, list their full names in the order they appear in the source. If there are more than three authors, list the first author’s name followed by “et al.”

Examples of using shortened citations (preferred format in the 17th Edition):

• Philip R. Cateora et al., International Marketing (New York: McGraw Hill, 2020), 292-294.
• Cateora et al., International Marketing , 28-29.
• Cateora et al., 28-29.
• Cateora et al., 377.

Long titles that are more than four words are usually shortened. Focus on keeping key words from the title and omitting any beginning “a” or “the.” Examples:

• And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street = Mulberry Street
• Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe = Fried Green Tomatoes

If you are using the discontinued ibid notation, here are a few guidelines:

• When the same source is used consecutively, instead of typing in the citation information again, use the abbreviation “ibid.” Add the page numbers immediately following.
• If the same source AND same page number are used consecutively, simply write “Ibid.”

Same example above, but using ibid:

• Philip R. Cateora et al, International Marketing (New York: McGraw Hill, 2020), 292-294.

Another example with two sources that were mentioned earlier in the text:

• Anthony Doerr, All the Light We Cannot See (New York: Scribner, 2014), 82-84.
• Tatiana de Rosnay, Sarah's Key (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2007), 24-27.
• Ibid., 133-134.
• Doerr, All the Light We Cannot See , 397-401.
• Ibid., 405.
• Ibid., 411.

For further clarification on the Chicago in-text citation style of footnotes and endnotes, consult the Chicago Manual of Style's website . This site is full of helpful pages, so if you’re tempted to head to Google to type in, “in-text citations Chicago,” take a peek at the official site first.

Creating Your Citations in Chicago Style

As mentioned, when you're following The Chicago Manual of Style, you'll be required to create a list of all sources used in your paper. Even though full bibliographic information can be found in the footnotes and endnotes, it is still acceptable, and often required by instructors, to create a bibliography. The bibliography is placed at the end of an assignment.

How to Cite a Print Book in Chicago Style

In the footnotes and endnotes:

First name Last name, Title of Book (Publication Place: Publisher, Year), page range.

In the bibliography:

Last name, First name. Title of book . Publication Place: Publisher, Year.

Example of Chicago Style for Books with One Author

Sam Staggs, Born to Be Hurt: The Untold Story of Imitation of Life (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2009), 84.

Staggs, Sam. Born to Be Hurt: The Untold Story of Imitation of Life. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2009.

Don’t forget, Citation Machine allows you to generate Chicago citations for books quickly and accurately.

Example of Chicago Citation for Books with Multiple Authors

Ella Shohat and Robert Stam, Unthinking Eurocentrism: Multiculturalism and the Media (London: Routledge,1994) 24-28.

Shohat, Ella, and Robert Stam. Unthinking Eurocentrism: Multiculturalism and the Media . London: Routledge, 1994.

How to Cite Chapters or Articles from a Book in Chicago Style

First name, Last name of Chapter Author, “Chapter or Article Title,” in Book Title , ed. First Name Last Name of Editor (Publication Place: Publisher, Year), page range.

Last name, First name. "Chapter Title." In Book Title , edited by First Name Last Name, page range. Publication Place: Publisher, Year.

Looking for a simple and easy-to-use Chicago citation maker? Head to our homepage and start building your Chicago format references with ease!

Example of Chicago Citation for Chapters in a Book

Laura Aymerich-Franch and Maddalena Fedele, "Student's Privacy Concerns on the Use of Social Media in Higher Education," in Cutting-Edge Technologies and Social Media Use in Higher Education, ed. Vledlena Benson and Stephanie Morgan (Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference, 2014), 35-36.

Aymerich-Franch, Laura, and Maddalena Fedele. "Student's Privacy Concerns on the Use of Social Media in Higher Education." In Cutting-Edge Technologies and Social Media Use in Higher Education, edited by Vledlena Benson and Stephanie Morgan, 35-36. Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference, 2014.

How to Cite Online E-books in Chicago Style

When citing e-books, include the URL or the name of the database. The URL or database name should be the last part of the citation.

First name Last name, Title of e-book (Place of Publication: Publisher, Year), page range, URL, Database Name.

Last name, First name. Title of Book. Publication Place: Publisher, Year. URL, Name of Database.

Example of Chicago Citation for E-Books

Michael J. Baker, The Marketing Book (Burlington, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2002), 89, https://htbiblio.yolasite.com/resources/Marketing%20Book.pdf .

Baker, Michael J. The Marketing Book. Burlington, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2002. https://htbiblio.yolasite.com/resources/Marketing%20Book.pdf .

If you understand how to structure your references easily, thanks to this thorough guide, and are looking for help with the written portion of your paper, look no further! There are tons of Citation Machine grammar guides to help you write with ease. Here’s just one of our many useful pages: Positive & Negative Adjectives .

How to Cite E-books in Chicago Style E-books from a Kindle or E-book Reader

If there aren’t any clearly labeled page numbers, use chapter numbers or titles, section numbers or titles, or any other established numbering system in the text. It’s also acceptable to omit page information from Chicago style citations if there aren’t clearly labeled page numbers.

First name Last name, Title of the Book (Place of Publication: Publisher, Year), page range, Type of E-reader

Last name, First name. Title of book . Publication Place: Publisher, Year. Type of e-reader.

Example of Chicago Citation for Kindle or E-book Reader

Corina Bomann, The Moonlight Garden (Washington: AmazonCrossing, 2016), chap. 8, Kindle.

Bomann, Corina. The Moonlight Garden . Washington: AmazonCrossing, 2016. Kindle.

How to Cite Print Journals in Chicago Style

First name Last name, "Title of Article," Journal Title Volume Number, No. of issue (Year): Page range.

Chicago style citation in the bibliography:

Last name, First name. "Title of Article," Journal Title Volume Number, No. of issue (Year): Page range.

Example of Chicago Citation for Print Journals

Damien O'Brien and Brian Fitzgerald, "Digital Copyright Law in a YouTube World," Internet Law Bulletin 9, no. 6 (2007): 71-74.

O'Brien, Damien, and Brian Fitzgerald, "Digital Copyright Law in a YouTube World." Internet Law Bulletin 9, no. 6 (2007): 71-74.

If you’re come this far and you’re still searching for in-text citation Chicago information, remember, this style uses footnotes and endnotes! Scroll up to find out more!

How to Cite Online or Database Journals in Chicago Style

First name Last name, "Article Title," Journal Title Volume Number, Issue No.(Year): Page range. URL or Name of Database.

Last name, First name. "Article Title." Journal Title Volume Number, Issue No. (Year): Page range. URL or Name of Database.

Example of Chicago Citation for Online or Database Journals

Trine Schreiber, "Conceptualizing Students’ Written Assignments in the Context of Information Literacy and Schatzki’s Practice Theory," Journal of Documentation 70, no. 3 (2014): 346-363. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-01-2013-0002 .

Schreiber, Trine. "Conceptualizing Students’ Written Assignments in the Context of Information Literacy and Schatzki’s Practice Theory." Journal of Documentation 70, no. 3 (2014): 346-363. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-01-2013-0002 .

Our Citation Machine Chicago citation generator helps you create your references in just a few clicks. Give it a whirl and watch the magic unfold!

How to Cite Print Magazines in Chicago Style

First name Last name, "Article Title," Magazine Title, Full Date, page range.

Last name, First name. "Article Title." Magazine Title, Full Date.

Example of Chicago Citation for Print Magazines

George J. Church, "Sunny Mood at Midsummer: Americans Take a Brighter View of Reagan," _Time, July 18, 1983, 56-59.

Church, George J. "Sunny Mood at Midsummer: Americans Take a Brighter View of Reagan" Time, July 18, 1983.

How to Cite Online Magazines in Chicago Style

First name, Last name, "Article Title," Title of Magazine, Full Date, URL.

Chicago style bibliography structure:

Last name, First name. "Article Title" Magazine Title, Full Date, URL.

Example of Chicago Citation for Online Magazines

Bill Donahue. “King of the Mountains,” Backpacker, September/October 2019, 76-82, http://backpacker.eoncontent.ebscohost.com/2226647#&pageSet=39

Donahue, Bill. “King of the Mountains.” Backpacker, September/October 2019. http://backpacker.eoncontent.ebscohost.com/2226647#&pageSet=39

How to Cite a Web Page in Chicago Style

Creating a footnote, endnote, or bibliographic information for web content isn’t always necessary. It’s acceptable to simply mention the source in the written portion of the paper. For example, “The Marco Polo page on History’s website, last updated on March 6, 2019, describes his travels along the Silk Road while....” Include formal Chicago citation style references if you or your professor prefers to do so.

A bit more:

• If the website page is missing a date of publication, include the date the source was last modified or accessed in the footnote and endnote.
• If the website page is missing the name of the author, begin the footnote with the “Title of the Article or Page.”

First name Last name of Author, "Title of Article or Page," Title of Website, Date published or last modified or accessed, URL.

Last name, First name or Organization Name. "Title of Article or Page." Title of Website. Date published or last modified or accessed. URL.

Figuring out how to style web references can be tricky, but thanks to our Chicago citation machine, we’ve made the whole process much easier for you. Try it out!

Example of Chicago Citation for a Web Page

Sujan Patel, "15 Must-have Marketing Tools for 2015," Entrepreneur, January 12, 2015. http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241570 .

Patel, Sujan. “15 Must-have Marketing Tools for 2015.” Entrepreneur. January 12, 2015. http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/241570 .

Don’t forget, Citation Machine allows you to generate Chicago citations for websites quickly and accurately.

How to Cite The Bible or Religious Texts in Chicago Style

Bible references are often displayed in the text of a paper (similar to web content) or in footnotes and endnotes. Formal bible references in bibliographies are not necessary.

Abbreviated Title of Book, Chapter:Verse (Edition).

Example of Chicago Citation for Bible

2 Cor. 11:7 (New Standard Version).

If you’re looking for other resources to help you with the written portion of your paper, we have quite a few handy grammar guides. Two of our favorites? Adjectives starting with X and List of verbs .

How to Cite Blogs in Chicago Style

*According to the 17th edition of the manual, blogs are not typically cited in bibliographies. They are generally cited in the footnotes/endnotes section. Of course, if the writer or professor prefers a full bibliographic reference, one can be created.

Style notes and bibliographic references the same way as you would an online newspaper, but include (blog) in parentheses immediately following the title of the blog.

First name Last name, "Title of Blog Post," Title of Blog (blog), Title of Larger Blog, if part of a larger one, Month Day Year of post, URL.

Last Name, First Name. "Title of the Blog." Name of Blog Site (blog). Title of Larger Blog, if part of a larger one, Month Day Year of post. URL.

Example of Chicago Citation for Blogs

Shannon Miller, "Valentine Ideas Using Digital Tools, Hands, Creativity, and a Little Love for Padlet," The Library Voice (blog), January 20, 2016, http://vanmeterlibraryvoice.blogspot.com/2016/01/valentine-ideas-using-digital-tools.html .

Miller, Shannon. "Valentine Ideas Using Digital Tools, Hands, Creativity, and a Little Love for Padlet." The Library Voice, January 20, 2016. http://vanmeterlibraryvoice.blogspot.com/2016/01/valentine-ideas-using-digital-tools.html .

Chicago style bibliographies aren’t as complicated as they seem, especially when you have a generator to do the work for you. Head to our homepage and try ours out!

How to Cite TV Broadcasts in Chicago Style

Title of Series , episode number, “Title of Episode,” directed by First Name Last Name, written by First Name Last Name, featuring First Names Last Names of actors, aired Month Day, Year, on Station Name, URL.

Last Name, First Name, dir. Title of Series . Season Number, episode number, “Title of Episode.” Aired Month Day, Year, on Station Name. URL.

Example of Chicago Citation for Broadcasts

Riverdale , episode 15, “American Dreams,” directed by Gabriel Correra, written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, featuring KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart, and Cole Sprouse, aired March 13, 2019, on CW.

Bibliography Chicago style:

Correra, Gabriel, dir. Riverdale . Season 3, episode 15, “American Dreams.” Aired March 13, 2019, on CW.

How to Cite a Case Study in Chicago Style

First name Last name. Title of Case Study. (Publication Place: Publisher, Year).

Last name, First name. Title of Case Study.

Example of Chicago Citation for Case Study

Peter Finn. Disulfiram.

Finn, Peter. Disulfiram.

How to Cite Conference Proceedings in Chicago Style

First Name Last Name, “Title of Conference Paper” (format, Title of Conference, Location, Full Date).

Last name, First name. “Title of Conference Paper.” Format presented at Title of Conference, Location, Date. URL.

Example of Chicago Citation for Conference Paper

Craig Myerson, “Historical Markings in New Castle, Delaware” (Power-Point presentation, The University of Delaware, Newark, DE, June 18, 2019.

Myerson, Craig. “Historical Markings in New Castle, Delaware.” Power-point presentation presented at The University of Delaware, Newark, DE, June 18, 2019.

How to Cite Court or Legal Cases in Chicago Style

The 17th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style recommends referring to The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation , or the ALWD Guide to Legal Citation to learn how to create court or legal references. Both guides are widely used by those in legal fields and have become the standard for referencing legal cases.

The examples below reflect the format found in The Bluebook .

Legal cases are rarely documented in bibliographies, usually only in notes.

Plaintiff v. Defendant, Court Case Number (Abbreviated Name of the Court. Year).

Example of Chicago Citation for Legal Cases

Michael Clum v. Jackson National Life Insurance Co., 10-000126-CL (Ingham Cty. 2011).

How to Cite Dictionary and Encyclopedia Entries in Chicago Style

According to The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition, well-known reference books, including major dictionaries and encyclopedias, are normally cited in notes rather than bibliographies. Lesser known reference books can be cited in the bibliography.

The abbreviation "s.v." means sub verbo , which is Latin for "under the word."

Chicago style formatting in the footnotes and endnotes:

Name of dictionary or encyclopedia , Numbered ed. (Year), s.v. “term.”

If found online:

Name of dictionary or encyclopedia , s.v. "term," accessed Month Day Year, url.

Last name, First name of Author. Title of Dictionary or Encyclopedia . Numbered ed. Location of Publisher: Publisher, Year.

Example of Chicago Citation for Dictionary and Encyclopedia Entries

Encyclopedia Britannica , s.v. “pressure,” accessed September 15, 2019, https://www.britannica.com/science/pressure .

Gover, Emily. Encyclopedia of Birds . 4th ed. New York: Chegg, 2016.

How to Cite Dissertations in Chicago Style

First name Last name, "Title of Dissertation" (type of paper, school, year), url.

Last name, First name. "Title of Dissertation." Type of Paper, School, Year. URL or Database(Identification Number).

Example of Chicago Citation for Dissertations

Michele Kirschenbaum, "Young Students' Online Searching Capabilities" (master's thesis, Drexel University, 2009).

Kirschenbaum, Michele. "Young Students' Online Searching Capabilities." Master's thesis, Drexel University, 2009.

How to Cite DVDs, Video, and Film in Chicago Style

Title , directed by First Name Last name (Year; City, State Abbrev: Producer), Format.

Last Name, First Name, dir. Title . Year; City, State Abbrev: Producer, Year. Format.

Example of Chicago Citation for Film, DVDs, or Videos

_Home Lone , directed by Chris Columbus (1990; Los Angeles, CA: 20th Century Fox), DVD.

Columbus, Chris, dir. Home Alone . 1990; Los Angeles, CA: 20th Century Fox. DVD.

Don’t forget, Citation Machine allows you to generate Chicago citations for films quickly and accurately.

How to Cite Facebook Pages in Chicago Style

Title of Facebook Page, “Text of Post,” Facebook, Month Day, Year, URL.

Title of Facebook Page. “Text of Post.” Facebook, Month Day, Year. URL.

Example of Chicago Citation for Facebook Post

Awakenings, “Maceo Plex gave us goosebumps during Awakenings Festival! We can't wait to hear what he has in store during Maceo Plex x Lone Romantic | Awakenings ADE Elementenstraat on October 19:awak.enin.gs/2KMxDCH,” Facebook, September 12, 2019, https://www.facebook.com/pg/awakenings/posts/?ref=page_internal .

Awakenings. “Maceo Plex gave us goosebumps during Awakenings Festival! We can't wait to hear what he has in store during Maceo Plex x Lone Romantic | Awakenings ADE Elementenstraat on October 19:awak.enin.gs/2KMxDCH.” Facebook, September 12, 2019. https://www.facebook.com/pg/awakenings/posts/?ref=page_internal .

How to Cite Government Publications in Chicago Style

Title of Publication , prepared by Organization (City, State Abbrev, Year).

Firm/Department. Title of Publication . City, State Abbrev, Year.

Example of Chicago Citation for Government Publication

Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons Annual Financial Statements Fiscal Year 2014 , prepared by The Department of Justice (Washington, DC, 2014).

Department of Justice. Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons Annual Financial Statements Fiscal Year 2014 . Washington, DC, 2014.

How to Cite Interviews in Chicago Style

Published Interviews are treated in Chicago format style like an article in a magazine or a newspaper. Use one of those formats to cite your interview.

How to Cite an E-mail in Chicago Style

According to The Chicago Manual of Style , 17th edition, personal communications, such as letters, e-mails, text messages, and phone calls are usually referenced in the footnotes and endnotes or explained in the text of the paper. They are rarely listed in the Chicago style bibliography. In addition, an e-mail address belonging to an individual should be omitted, unless given permission by its owner.

Individual's First name Last name, type of communication, Month Day Year of correspondence.

Example of Chicago Citation for E-mail

Michele Kirschenbaum, e-mail message to author, January 18, 2016.

How to Cite Musical Recordings in Chicago Style

"Title of Song," Year of recording date, Platform, track number on Artist’s Name, Album Title, Producer, Year.

Last name, First name of performer. Title of Album. Recorded Year. Producer.

Example of Chicago Citation for Recordings

"Sucker,” Spotify, track 1, on Jonas Brothers, Happiness Begins , Republic Records, 2019.

Jonas Brothers. Happiness Begins . 2019. Republic Records.

Still wondering how to style a Chicago in-text citation? Remember, this style uses footnotes and endnotes! Head to the top of this page to learn more!

How to Cite Online Videos in Chicago Style

First name Last name of individual who posted the video, “Title of Video,” Producer, published on Month Day, Year, Site video, Length, URL.

Last name, First name. "Title of Video." Producer. Published on Month Day, Year. Site video, Length. URL.

Example of Chicago Citation for Online Videos

“Habitats Work in Texas After Hurricane Harvey,” Habitat for Habitat for Humanity, published on September 11, 2019, YouTube video, 01:35, https://youtu.be/EPPALfWYGRo .

“Habitats Works in Texas After Hurricane Harvey.” Habitat for Humanity. Published on September 11, 2019. YouTube video, 01:35. https://youtu.be/EPPALfWYGRo .

How to Cite Images in Chicago Style

First name Last name, Title of Image , Year, format, Location, State, URL.

Last Name, First Name. Title of Image . Date. Format. Location, State, URL.

Example of Chicago Citation for Photographs and Images

Jerome Liebling, May Day , New York, 1948, photograph, The Jewish Museum, New York.

Liebling, Chris. May Day , New York. 1948. Photograph. The Jewish Museum, New York.

How to Cite Live Performances in Chicago Style

Since most live performances are not retrievable by the reader, simply refer to them in the text of the paper or in the notes, and omit it from the bibliography. If it’s a recorded performance, follow the Chicago style format for musical recordings.

Title of Play , music and lyrics by First Name Last Name, dir. First Name Last name, chor. Name of Theatre, City, State Abbrev, Date of Live Performance.

Example of Chicago Citation for Live Performances

The Lion King , Julie Taymor, dir. Garth Fagan, chor. Minskoff Theatre, New York, NY, August 8, 2019.

How to Cite Podcasts in Chicago Style

When citing podcasts in Chicago Style, treat it as an article in a periodical or a chapter in a book. If found online, include the url.

How to Cite Poems in Chicago Style

When citing poems in Chicago Style, cite it as you would a chapter in a book.

How to Cite Presentations and Lectures in Chicago Style

Follow the same guidelines as in the “Conference Papers” section above.

How to Cite Sheet Music in Chicago Style

According to the Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition, cite sheet music the same way as you cite books.

Once you’ve styled each and every reference, take a minute to run your paper through our plagiarism checker . It’s the perfect go-to resource when you’re in need of another set of eyes to scan your paper!

Updated January 8, 2020

Written and edited by Michele Kirschenbaum and Wendy Ikemoto. Michele Kirschenbaum has been an awesome school librarian since 2006 and is an expert in citing sources. Wendy Ikemoto has a master’s degree in library and information science and has been working for Citation Machine since 2012.

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Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) /Turabian Citation Style: Primary and Secondary Sources

• Chicago/Turabian Citation Style
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• Researching in History
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Primary versus Secondary Sources

Primary vs. secondary videos.

Primary, Secondary, & Tertiary Sources The content of research papers may come from different types of sources, such as:

• Your own opinion and analysis
• Primary sources
• Secondary sources
• Tertiary sources

It may not be necessary to include each of these types of sources in every paper you write, but your instructor may require you to include them. It is important to understand the characteristics of primary, secondary and tertiary sources–they each serve a different purpose throughout the research process, and can strengthen your assignment, too.

It can be difficult to figure out if a source is considered primary, secondary, or tertiary. We will explain the differences and provide examples of each in this tutorial. If you are still not sure if a source you would like to use is primary, secondary, or tertiary, ask a librarian or teacher.

What is a Primary Source? Primary sources are first-hand, authoritative accounts of an event, topic, or historical time period. They are typically produced at the time of the event by a person who experienced it, but can also be made later on in the form of personal memoirs or oral histories.

Anything that contains original information on a topic is considered a primary source. Usually, primary sources are the object discussed in your paper. For instance, if you are writing an analysis on Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, the book would be a primary source. But, just because a source is old does not mean it is a primary source.

Some examples of original, first-hand, authoritative accounts include:

• Letters, diaries or journals (Personal thoughts)
• Original photographs
• First-hand newspaper reports
• Speeches, autobiographies
• Creative works like plays, paintings and songs
• Research data and surveys

What is a Secondary Source? Secondary sources interpret or critique primary sources. They often include an analysis of the event that was discussed or featured in the primary source.  They are second-hand accounts that interpret or draw conclusions from one or more primary sources.

Some examples of works that interpret or critique primary sources include:

• Textbooks (May also be considered tertiary)
• Essays or reviews
• Articles that analyze or discuss ideas and events
• Criticisms or commentaries

What is a Tertiary Source? Tertiary sources generally provide an overview or summary of a topic, and may contain both primary and secondary sources. The information is displayed as entirely factual, and does not include analysis or critique.  Tertiary sources can also be collections of primary and secondary sources, such as databases, bibliographies and directories.

Some examples of sources that provide a summary or collection of a topic include:

• Textbooks (May also be considered secondary)
• Bibliographies or abstracts
• Wikipedia articles
• Encyclopedias

Using Primary, secondary and Tertiary Sources in Research Let’s say you are writing a research paper on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) of 1972, but you are unfamiliar with it. A good place to gather a general idea or understanding of the ERA would be a tertiary source, such as Wikipedia or the Encyclopedia Britannica. There, you can read a summary of events on its history, key people involved, and legislation.

To find more in-depth analysis on the Equal Rights Amendment, you consult a secondary source: the nonfiction book Why We Lost the ERA by Jane Mansbridge and a newspaper article from the 1970’s that discuss and review the legislation. These provide a more focused analysis of the Equal Rights Amendment that you can include as sources in your paper (make sure you cite them!).  A primary source that could bolster your research would be a government document detailing the ERA legislation that initially passed in Congress, giving a first-hand account of the legislation that went through the House and Senate in 1972.

This video provides a great overview of primary and secondary sources: [ youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= PgfQC4d3pKc &w=420&h=315]

Source:  http://content.easybib.com/students/research-guide/primary-secondary-tertiary-sources/

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About Citation

How to Cite Sources

Chicago Style Citation

Chicago Style is a commonly-used citation style for humanities, sciences and social sciences students.

• The Chicago Manual of Style Online The Chicago Manual of Style Online is completely searchable and easy to use, providing quick answers to your style and editing questions. The Q&A content is fully searchable along with the content of The Chicago Manual of Style. The Chicago Manual of Style Online also provides convenient tools, such as sample forms, letters, and style sheets.

For other citation styles please refer to Citation Styles LibGuide .

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