Using Archives & Manuscripts

Consult the NYU Libraries Citation Style Guide for citation and bibliography assistance. Includes APA, MLA, and Chicago style examples.

Archival boxes on the shelves in the Tamiment Library.

Best Practices:

• It is important to take accurate notes when doing research in unpublished manuscripts and archival material so you can find items again if you need to, and so other researchers will be able to go back to the source when following your footnote or bibliography entry.
• Accurately record:
  • the collection name,
  • box number,
  • folder number, and
  • document details when taking notes  
• If you are citing correspondence, record the author, the recipient, and the date of the letter, if known.
• Format your citations as instructed in the finding aid for the collection.

Requesting Permission: 

If you wish to quote from unpublished materials in a special library collection, you must request permission from the repository as well as from the appropriate copyright holders.  It is often wise to check with archivists before quoting to make sure there are no use restrictions.  Contact NYU Special Collections. 

Copyright:

Information about copyright holders and how to locate them can be found in the WATCH File, a joint project of the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at UT, Austin and the University of Reading in the UK.

General information and answers to specific copyright questions may be found using the following sources:

• Copyright - NYU Research Guide
• Digital Copyright Slider
• United States Copyright Office
• Cornell University’s Copyright Information Center
• WATCH File database of copyright contacts