Citing images is often one of the most confusing aspects of using these materials in historical research. Because of this, we’ve come up with the “cheat sheet” below. This format is Chicago/Turabian, the generally accepted style for historical papers and theses. While many instructors in high schools tend to use MLA style, this format should easily translate. Using the template will help you gather the who-what-when-where information, which you can then plug into the particular style format indicated by your instructor.

THE TEMPLATE:

Creator name, role. “[Title. this is in brackets because our titles are not really titles, but descriptions.]” Format. Where you accessed the images: collection name. Image number (URL if the image was accessed online).

4 EXAMPLES:

Unknown photographer. “[Teachers at Biddeford Evening School, held at the Washington Street School, 1900.]” Photograph. From McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Maine: Photograph Collections. Image 540.

Anastasoff Studio, photographer. “[Washington Street School, 1955.]” Photograph. From McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Maine: Photograph Collections. Image 760.

Moody, Charles E., photographer. “[Washington Street School fourth grade class (identified), 1907.]” Photograph. From McArthur Public Library, Biddeford, Maine: Photograph Collections. Image 1103.

Cole, Benjamin F., photographer. “[Shaw’s Block Ruins, Biddeford, 1872.]” Stereograph. From McArthurPublic Library, Biddeford, Maine: Stereograph cards. Image 630 (http://www.mainememory.net/artifact/29366).