How to cite sources in a history paper

The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) is a primary authority on citations in history papers. The manual offers a choice between two formats: Note-Bibliography (NB) and Author-Date (AD). The former relies on footnotes (or endnotes) for in-text citations and comes with a Bibliography page. The latter is similar to APA, includes author and publication date details in parentheses, and requires a Reference List at the end. 

Like most citation styles, CMOS wants you to include as much relevant data about the source as possible to make it easy to identify and find, but we’ll get into the nitty-gritty details in a moment. First, let’s start with the most important question. Why is it important to cite sources?

Why source citation matters in history papers

Citing sources in a history paper isn’t your professor’s whim. It’s vital for you and your readers:

• A strong reference list demonstrates your knowledge and supports your claims. Citing Wikipedia or random blog posts won’t win you any points, but using primary sources can be a sign of in-depth engagement and understanding.
• Readers can use your reference list to find additional information on the topic. That’s why every scientific publication must include sources, and why college professors require one, too.
• Citing sources and including a reference list protects your record. No one can accuse you of plagiarism if you cite every primary or secondary source used. So think of it as an insurance policy to avoid Turnitin trouble. 

Major citation styles used in history writing

The Chicago Manual of Style is the primary authority on how to cite sources in a history paper. Unlike other citation guidelines, CMOS offers two options for writers:

• Author-Date. This citation format is very similar to APA, where you must include the author’s name and publication date in parentheses after the reference data. All the sources are then included in the “References” section at the end of the paper. 
• Note-Bibliography. This citation format requires a footnote or an endnote for every source, as well as a full “Bibliography” page at the end of the paper. 

The choice ultimately comes down to personal preference. Unless your essay prompt requires one or the other, you can choose the format you’re most comfortable with. And if you have any doubts, ask your professor which option would suit your paper better. 

MLA is atypical for history papers, but if you’re working on an interdisciplinary piece, you might end up using it, so check the Modern Language Association website for the latest requirements. 

Citing primary sources & archival materials

Primary sources are historical materials from the era you’re researching. These include personal letters, journals, legislation, paintings, music sheets, maps, etc. You can usually find them in archives or personal collections. While using them isn’t mandatory, adding primary sources makes your history papers come to life and ensures their authenticity.

Using the proper citation style for history papers using primary materials is a bit more complex, because you’ll need additional information, such as:

• Title or description of item
• Date (day, month, year)
• Collection number or identifier
• Box number
• Folder number
• Collection name
• Repository name
• Repository location
• URL (if applicable)

Here’s an example of how to format bibliography and footnote in history papers:

• First mention (note): Typescript of short story “Red Shoes” by John M Weatherwax, n.d., SPC.2015.005, box 2, folder 5, John M. Weatherwax Collection, Gerth Archives and Special Collections, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA (hereafter cited as Typescript, John M. Weatherwax Collection).
• Subsequent mentions (note): Typescript, John M. Weatherwax Collection.
• Bibliography: Weatherwax, John M. Typescript of short story “Red Shoes”, n.d., John M. Weatherwax Collection. Gerth Archives and Special Collections, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA.

The same general rules apply to all forms of primary sources, including letters, photographs, documents, graphic materials, and other ephemera.

Citing secondary sources: books, articles, essays

Secondary sources are all the subsequent publications that refer to the historical period or events you’re researching. For example, while a Civil War-time letter is a primary source, a book describing the Civil War battles is a secondary source. 

We’ll get to specific requirements in a moment, but first, here’s a breakdown of all the information you’ll need for CMOS citations:

• Authors’ names
• Title
• Publication information (publisher, year, journal, volume, etc.)
• Page number(s)

Here’s an example of how to cite a secondary source:

• Footnote: Jack Kerouac, The Dharma Bums (Viking Press, 1958), 128.
• Reference list: Kerouac, Jack. The Dharma Bums. New York: Viking Press, 1958.

In-text vs footnote/endnote citation: which goes where

There are no hard rules for when to use the Author-Date or Notes-Bibliography citation. It’s up to your professor to decide. Some prefer the notes-bibliography style. For this history paper citation style, you need to:

• Use superscript numbers to flag source data throughout the page. Remember to include superscripted numbers after punctuation at the end of the sentence or clause.
• Use regular or superscript numbers in the footnotes at the bottom of the page, flush left. Use a semicolon to separate source data from additional comments.
• Include a full footnote when you mention the source for the first time, but use a shortened version for all subsequent mentions. 

Just remember not to overcite, or footnotes will swallow half of your every page. Anything that’s common knowledge doesn’t need a citation. In many cases, author-date in-text citations are easier, since you only need to include the two in parentheses at the end of the borrowed piece of information and leave the rest for the reference list. If you can convince your professor to choose this style instead, citations should take less time. 

Fine-tuning history paper citation 

Generally, professors expect you to consult sources, summarize their main ideas, and synthesize your own opinions on the subject. Citing sources in this case should be easy, but you may face complex cases. Here’s a brief overview of how to cite sources in a history paper beyond the basics:

• Quotes. If you want to address the author’s wording or if it’s more impactful than anything you can write, quotations are the best choice. Short quotes come in quotation marks. Long quotes (over 60 words) should be formatted as block quotes. These don’t need quotation marks; they are indented on both sides and use single-line spacing.
• Multiple sources in one sentence. Add a superscript number or parentheses for the author-date style at the end of each corresponding clause. You can combine several sources in one footnote.
• Consecutive sentences from the same source. You don’t have to add a citation after each period. Instead, add a footnote number of author-date information after the last sentence using the source. 

If it all sounds way too hard, don’t bother wasting your time. Use our write my paper service instead. We’ll deliver a finished piece, complete with citations, ready for submission way before the deadline. 

Examples and sample citations

While you should definitely check the CMOS for complex cases, if you’re dealing with books or articles, this table should be enough to help guide your citation efforts:

Citation tools, managing your sources, and best practices

We’ve gone over the basic and complex cases of citing primary and secondary sources in the Chicago style, but there are a few more tips to share. These aren’t exclusive to CMOS, and will work for most citation styles:

1. Keep careful notes throughout your research. Whenever you copy anything from a source into your file, include the publication data you’ll need to reference it. This will help you remember where each idea or piece of evidence originates and avoid missing citations. 
2. Use reference management software. Tools like Zoteri, Mendeley, or EndNote are vital for keeping track of your sources and creating correct citations. Even if they are very good at catching errors, you should still double-check the automated output to make sure nothing’s missing or wrong. 
3. Ensure footnotes match the bibliography. If you use more than a dozen sources, it’s easy to lose track of something. When you’re done fiddling with your paper and bibliography, cross-reference your sources to ensure they are consistent across the footnotes and bibliography. You may need to correct the order, remove or add missing sources. 
4. Check the style manual or department guide. Like other formatting styles, CMOS gets updated regularly. For instance, the latest, 18th edition removed the requirement to include the publication location in citations. If your professor is unaware of the change, misunderstandings can happen. So, if there’s a departmental guide for citation for history paper, you’re better off using that instead of the general manual. 
5. Format your citations carefully. It’s not just about the correct data or order; text formatting matters, too. Pay attention to punctuation and italicization. For example, book names use italics, but article names should use quotation marks, while journal names should be italicized. Notes typically separate source information with commas, while bibliographies use periods. 

By the way, dealing with homework on your own isn’t always a good idea, especially when you’re overworked and out of time. You can buy a history paper to score a top grade without lifting a finger. All you need to do is contact us, and we’ll match you with an academic expert perfectly suited to your schoolwork needs. 

Conclusion

Citation is one of the overlooked and underappreciated parts of the writing process. Students hate it because they don’t understand how valuable a solid bibliography can be. Hopefully, we’ve managed to convince you otherwise. With our advice and samples, you should be confident in how to cite a history paper, whether your professor prefers the NB or AD format. Add this post to your favorites and come back to it whenever you need a reminder of how to deal with CMOS citations for your history papers. 

Remember, our writers are always on standby to help you handle a history paper. Contact our support team or jump straight to the order form if you’re ready to give us a try.