next »

[malcha]

I'm hoping that folks experienced in archival work will fill me in on this.  I need to cite a finding aid for a particular ms collection.  MLA format, there isn't any indication of who wrote up the finding aid.  Is it just "Finding Aid:  XYZ collection, ABC Library"?

[glowdart]

Ew. 

I might do
Corporate Author: Library/ Archive Name
Title: Title of Finding Aid
Place of Pub: City
Publisher: Library/Archive Name
Date: if there is one
Access information & web date (if used on-line)


Or maybe follow the format for an unpublished manuscript? 

Actually, if you used the paper copy, then have you looked on-line (either website or in the library electronic card catalog) to see if the finding aid is available there?  Sometimes the on-line records have more information than the paper copy. 

[malcha]

It is online only in the sense that you can access a PDF of the typed original from the library's website.  

But your solution sounds reasonable to me. Thanks.

[dr_crankypants]

I use Chicago, rather than MLA, but I think this qualifies as an unpublished/manuscript source, even if it's online as well.  This has not been published, right? My inclination would be would to treat it as a manuscript in the collection (Finding Aid for XYZ Collection).  Do try to get a date for the finding aid, however, even if it's not included on the paper itself. They do get updated.  But after the archival citation, add the internet information as a convenience (you can do "also available at" if you used the paper version).

[dellaroux]

I have this problem with French manuscript indexes, sometimes the preface to the index names the person who did most of the work, or it usually ties back somewhere to the CNRS, or one of their branches, so you can call them and ask.

Sometimes it's "old so-and-so" and everyone knows it, so it's not printed....because, well, everyone knows it...!!!