Citation Guidelines
Here are some examples of citation formats for the specific types of content you are likely encounter on the Gilder Lehrman website: essays, multimedia, spotlights on primary sources, and primary sources. We have included APA, MLA, and Turabian (adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style). The examples below are suggested models, and you should verify preferred citations of online materials with your teacher or department.
APA (6th edition)
These examples follow Concise Rules of APA Style, 6th ed. (Washington DC: American Psychological Association, 2010).
Essays
Essays that are part of the online journal History Now are indicated by the bar above the title of the essay showing the issue number, title, and publication date:
In-text Citations
(Crosby, 2007)
Reference
Crosby, A. (2007, Summer). The Columbian Exchange. History Now 12. Retrieved
from https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-now/columbian-exchange
Essays that are not part of the online journal History Now (these essays do not have the History Now issue bar above the essay title):
In-text Citations
(Gallagher)
Reference
Gallagher, G. W. (n.d.). The American Civil War. Retrieved from https://www
.gilderlehrman.org/history-now/american-civil-war
Spotlights on Primary Sources
Spotlights on Primary Sources are brief introductions to historical documents; the “creator” listed on Spotlights on Primary Source pages is the author of the original document, not the author of the introduction. The Gilder Lehrman Institute is the author of the introductions.
In-text Citations
(Gilder Lehrman Institute, “Hoover”)
List of Works Cited
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. (n.d.). Herbert Hoover on the Great Depression and New Deal, 1930–1933. Retrieved from
https://www.gilderlehrman.org/content/herbert-hoover-great-depression-a…
Multimedia
In-text Citations
(Foner and Basker)
Reference list
Foner, E., & Basker, J. G. (n.d.). The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American
Slavery [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.gilderlehrman.org/multimedia#!116430
Primary Sources
Primary sources are historical documents found in the online catalog of the Gilder Lehrman Collection of the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
In-text Citations
(Knox, L. F. to Henry Knox, May 1777, p. 2)
Reference list
Knox, L. F. (1777, May). [Letter to Henry Knox]. The Gilder Lehrman Collection, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, New York, NY.
Retrieved from https://www.gilderlehrman.org/content/henry-knox-659
MLA (7th edition)
These examples follow MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 7th ed. (New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2009). MLA advises including the source medium (e.g., Web) and the access date. MLA also suggests eliminating the url, but we have shown it in the Lists of Works Cited examples in case your teacher or department wants it included.
Essays
Essays that are part of the online journal History Now are indicated by the bar above the title of the essay showing the issue number, title, and publication date:
Parenthetical Documentation
(Crosby)
List of Works Cited
Crosby, Alfred. “The Columbian Exchange,” History Now 12 (Summer 2007): n. pag. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
<https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-now/columbian-exchange>.
Essays that are not part of the online journal History Now (these essays do not have the bar above the title of the essay showing the issue number, title, and publication date:):
Parenthetical Documentation
(Gallagher)
List of Works Cited
Gallagher, Gary W. “The American Civil War.” The Gilder Lehrman Institute of
American History, n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2014. <https://www
.gilderlehrman.org/history-now/american-civil-war>.
Spotlights on Primary Sources
These are brief introductions to historical documents; the “creator” listed on Spotlights on Primary Source pages is the author of the original document, not the author of the introduction. The Gilder Lehrman Institute is the author of the introductions.
Parenthetical documentation
(Gilder Lehrman Institute, “Hoover”)
List of Works Cited
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. “Herbert Hoover on the Great
Depression and New Deal, 1930–1933.” The Gilder Lehrman Institute of
American History, n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. <http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history
-by-era/new-deal/resources/herbert-hoover-great-depression-and-new-deal
-1931–1933>.
Multimedia
Parenthetical documentation
(Foner and Basker)
List of Works Cited
Foner, Eric, and James G. Basker. “The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American
Slavery.” Video. Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, n.d. Web. 28 Mar.
2014. <http://www.gilderlehrman.org/multimedia#!116430>.
Primary Sources
Primary sources are historical documents found in the online catalog of the Gilder Lehrman Collection of The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
Parenthetical documentation
(Knox 1)
List of Works Cited
Knox, Lucy Flucker. Letter to Henry Knox, May 1777. MS. The Gilder Lehrman
Collection, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, New York. 29 Mar.
2014. Web. <http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collections/00bdd736-090d-4604
-b77d-698953626418>.
Turabian (8th edition)
These examples follow Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 8th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2013). The two different styles described in Turabian—notes-bibliography style and author-date style—are listed below.
Notes-Bibliography Style
Essays
Essays that are part of the online journal History Now, indicated by the History Now logo above the title of the essay (click on the title of the issue of History Now in small type under the History Now logo to find out which issue the essay is from):
Notes
1. Alfred Crosby, "The Columbian Exchange," History Now 12 (Summer 2007), The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, accessed March 28, 2014, http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-now/2007-06/age-exploration.
Bibliography
Crosby, Alfred. "The Columbian Exchange," History Now 12 (Summer 2007). The
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Accessed March 28, 2014.
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-now/2007-06/age-exploration.
Essays that are not part of the online journal History Now (these essays do not have the History Now logo above the title of the essay):
Notes
Gary W. Gallagher, "The American Civil War," The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, accessed March 28, 2014, http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/civil-war-and-reconstructio….
Bibliography
Gallagher, Gary W. "The American Civil War." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of
American History. Accessed March 28, 2014. http://www.gilderlehrman
.org/history-by-era/civil-war-and-reconstruction-1861-1877/american-civil-war.
Spotlights on Primary Sources
These are brief introductions to historical documents; the "creator" listed on Spotlights on Primary Source pages is the author of the original document, not the author of the introduction. The Gilder Lehrman Institute is the author of the introductions.
Notes
1. Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, "Herbert Hoover on the Great Depression and New Deal, 1931–1933," accessed March 28, 2014, http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/new-deal/resources/herbert-…–1933.
Bibliography
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. "Herbert Hoover on the Great
Depression and New Deal, 1931–1933." Accessed March 28, 2014.
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/new-deal/resources/herbert-…–1933.
Multimedia
Notes
1. Eric Foner and James G. Basker, "The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery," The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History video, 36:12, accessed March 28, 1014, http://www.gilderlehrman.org/multimedia
#!116430.
Bibliography
Foner, Eric, and James G. Basker. "The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American
Slavery." 36:12. March 28, 2014. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/multimedia#!116430.
Primary Sources
Primary sources are historical documents found in the online catalog of the Gilder Lehrman Collection of The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
Notes
1. Lucy Flucker Knox to Henry Knox, May 1777, The Gilder Lehrman Collection, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, New York, accessed March 28, 2014, http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collections/00bdd736-090d-4604-b77d-698953….
Bibliography
If only one item from the Gilder Lehrman Collection is cited, use the item record for the bibliography:
Knox, Lucy Flucker, to Henry Knox, May 1777. The Gilder Lehrman Collection, The
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, New York. Accessed March 28,
2014. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collections/00bdd736-090d-4604-b77d-698953….
If multiple items from the Gilder Lehrman Collection are used, the bibliography entry can be the Collection itself:
Gilder Lehrman Collection. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, New
York.
Author-Date Reference Style
Essays
Essays that are part of the online journal History Now, indicated by the History Now logo above the title of the essay (click on the title of the issue of History Now in small type under the History Now logo to find out which issue the essay is from):
Parenthetical citations
(Crosby 2007)
Reference list
Crosby, Alfred. 2007. "The Columbian Exchange," History Now 12 (Summer). The
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Accessed March 28, 2014.
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-now/2007-06/age-exploration
Essays that are not part of the online journal History Now (these essays do not have the History Now logo above the title of the essay). For undated online materials, Turabian recommends using the date of access in place of the date of publication.
Parenthetical citations
(Gallagher 2014)
Reference list
Gallagher, Gary W. 2014. "The American Civil War." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of
American History. Accessed March 28, 2014. http://www.gilderlehrman.org
/history-by-era/civil-war-and-reconstruction-1861-1877/american-civil-war.
Spotlights on Primary Sources
These are brief introductions to historical documents; the "creator" listed on Spotlights on Primary Source pages is the author of the original document, not the author of the introduction. The Gilder Lehrman Institute is the author of the introductions. For undated online materials, Turabian recommends using the date of access in place of the date of publication. When author and date are the same for multiple sources, Turabian suggests adding lower-case letters after the year.
Parenthetical citation
(Gilder Lehrman Institute 2014a)
Reference list
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. 2014a. "Herbert Hoover on the
Great Depression and New Deal, 1930–1933." Accessed March 28, 2014.
http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/new-deal/resources/herbert
-hoover-great-depression-and-new-deal-1931–1933.
Multimedia
Parenthetical citation
(Foner and Basker 2014)
Reference list
Foner, Eric, and James G. Basker. 2014. "The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and
American Slavery." The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History video,
36:12. Accessed March 28, 2014. http://www.gilderlehrman.org
/multimedia#!116430.
Primary Sources
Primary sources are historical documents found in the online catalog of the Gilder Lehrman Collection of The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.
Parenthetical citation
(Lucy Knox to Henry Knox, May 1777, Gilder Lehrman Collection)
Reference list
If only one item from the Gilder Lehrman Collection is cited, use the item record for the bibliography:
Knox, Lucy Flucker. 1777. Letter to Henry Knox, May. The Gilder Lehrman Collection,
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, New York. Accessed
March 28, 2014. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collections/00bdd736-090d
-4604-b77d-698953626418.
If multiple items from the Gilder Lehrman Collection are used, the bibliography entry can be the Collection itself:
Gilder Lehrman Collection. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, New
York. http://www.gilderlehrman.org/collections.