How to Cite Materials
from the Medical Center Archives

Footnotes should indicate the collection or other identifying information from the Archives' finding aids. Privately published works may credit Rush University Medical Center Archives with credits to other institutions and agencies. For textual archival materials from the Medical Center Archives, cite the record item, the file unit, the collection, the record group, and the repository.

For example, a piece of correspondence from a larger collection:

1. . Item: James Campbell, M. D., to Merle E. Minks, December 23, 1982;
2. . File Unit: File 2, Personal Correspondence, 1982;
3. . Container: Box 14;
4. . Collection: C97-052, James A. Campbell, M. D., Papers, 1924-1983;
5. . Repository: Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.

Would appear as:

James A. Campbell, M. D., to Merle E. Minks, December 23, 1982; File 2, Personal Correspondence, 1982; Box 14; C97-052, James A. Campbell, M. D., Papers, 1924-1983; Rush University Medical Center Archives, Chicago, IL.

Subsequent citations to the same record may be abbreviated. Researchers may develop their own abbreviation symbols; however, parentheses should be used to enclose the abbreviation symbols that appear after the initial citation. An alphabetical table may also be used to define abbreviation symbols. For example:

James A. Campbell, M. D., to Merle E. Minks, December 23, 1982 (Campbell to Minks); File 2, Personal Correspondence, 1982 (File 2); Box 14 (Box 14); C97-052, James A. Campbell, M. D., Papers, 1924-1983 (C97-052); Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL (RUMC Archives).

Would appear in subsequent citations as:

Campbell to Minks; File 2; Box 14; C97-052; RUMC Archives.

Alternatively, you may wish to construct a table of abbreviations to summarize lengthy references. For an excellent guide to citing archival materials, please see the National Archives and Records Administration's General Information Leaflet 17: Citing Records in the National Archives.

Non-textual records comprise maps, plans, motion pictures, photographs, posters, sound and video recordings, and oral history tapes and transcripts. Because of the variety of record types, the filing unit (which includes the physical format of the item and its file number) is critical for citing non-textual records. For these types of records from the Medical Center Archives, it is suggested that researchers identify the file unit (physical form and file number), the file title, the series title, the collection title and number, and the repository and its location. For example, a photograph:

1. . File Unit: Photograph File 39, "Campbell, James A., M. D. - Commencement," June 1980;
2. . Container: Box 1;
3. . Collection: V97-052, James A. Campbell, M. D., Photos, Contact Sheets, and Negatives;
4. . Repository: Rush University Medical Center Archives, Chicago, IL.

Photograph File 39, "Campbell, James A., M. D. - Commencement," June 1980; Box 1; V97-052, James A. Campbell, M. D., Photos, Contact Sheets and Negatives; Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.

Subsequent citations to the same record may be abbreviated. Researchers may develop their own abbreviation symbols; however, parentheses should be used to enclose the abbreviation symbols that appear after the initial citation. An alphabetical table may also be used to define abbreviation symbols. For example:

Photograph File 39, "Campbell, James A., M. D. - Commencement," June 1980 (File 39, Campbell, June 1980); Box 1 (Box 1); V97-052, James A. Campbell, M. D., Photos, Contact Sheets and Negatives (V97-052); Rush University Medical Center Archives, Chicago, IL (RUMCArchives).

Would appear in subsequent citations as:

File 39, Campbell, June1980; Box 1; V97-052; RUMC Archives.

Alternatively, you may wish to construct a table of abbreviations to summarize lengthy references. For an excellent guide to citing archival materials, please see the National Archives and Records Administration's General Information Leaflet 17: Citing Records in the National Archives.