Texas State Archives Citation Form


Materials in the Texas State Archives should by cited by agency or collection name. An agency is a board, commission, or office of state (or Republic) government that creates records. A collection is a body of manuscripts, papers, or other non-state record items. Whenever possible SERIES, or subdivisions of these agency records or collections, should also be cited. A researcher should consult an archivist if there is any doubt as to the identity of an agency, collection, or series.

The following template covers most instances, and will be included in new and revised finding aids in the Archives' Search Room (and online), as Preferred citation:

(Identify the item and cite the series), Records (or another, more specific title of the records),
(Agency or Collection name). Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

If desired, the first occurrence of the repository name may include the phrase "(hereafter cited as ARIS - TSLAC)."

Researchers must not cite box or folder numbers, as these are subject to change and may confuse later researchers or staff. The exception is with unprocessed records or collections, when it is permissible to say the following:

[There is no finding aid available for these unprocessed records (or this unprocessed collection). Call number is XXX.]
 

EXAMPLES OF CITATIONS:

Governor's Records

Nathaniel J. Palmer to Governor of Texas (January 18, 1854), Records of the
         first two terms of Elisha Marshall Pease, Texas Office of the Governor.
         Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and
         Archives Commission.

Comptroller's Records

James D. Allcorn, Public debt claim, Texas Comptroller's Office. Archives and
        Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives
        Commission.

Register of liquor license complaint hearings (1910-1916), Records of liquor
        permits, Occupation taxes, Records documenting revenues and receipts,
        Texas Comptroller's Office. Archives and Information Services Division,
        Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Comptroller's Records - Confederate Pension Applications

Albert S. Adams, Texas Confederate pension application #12331, Texas
        Comptroller's Office. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State
        Library and Archives Commission.

Secretary of State Records

James Treat to Abner S. Lipscomb (July 4, 1840), Correspondence relating to
        diplomatic relations with Mexico, Texas Secretary of State. Archives and
        Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Jeff McLemore (1918), Campaign contribution and expense statements of
        candidates, Texas Secretary of State. Archives and Information Services
        Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Court Records

Brief of the appellee (January 6, 1873), W.H. Daingerfield et al. v. J.A. and G.W.
        Paschal et al., M-7047, Case files, Records, Texas Supreme Court.
        Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and
        Archives Commission.

Legislative Records

House Bill 113, 17th Legislature, Regular Session (1881), Bill files, Texas
        Legislature. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library
        and Archives Commission.

Page 15, Transcript of proceedings, Joint Committee of the House and Senate in
        the Investigation of the Texas State Ranger Force, Texas Legislature. Archives and
        Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Adjutant General's Records

List of agents and subagents employed in the collection of the tax-in-kind in the
        2nd Congressional District of Texas (June 2, 1864), Reports of hired persons
        (tax-in-kind), Confederate records, Civil War records, Texas Adjutant General's
        Department. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library
        and Archives Commission.

Muster roll of Company A (September 1, 1875), Frontier Battalion military rolls,
        Military rolls, Texas Adjutant General's Department. Archives and Information
        Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Manuscript Collections

N.M. Danforth to M.B. Lamar (April 30, [1839]), #526, Mirabeau Buonaparte
        Lamar papers. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library
        and Archives Commission.

Constitution and by-laws of the Texas Equal Rights Association (October 21-22,
        1895), Texas suffrage movement: organization, Woman's suffrage, Reform
        movements, Erminia Thompson Folsom papers. Archives and Information
        Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Map Collection

"Plan de la Villa de Austin, 1824," #122, Map collection. Archives and Information
        Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Music Collection

"General Taylor's Quick Step," #13, Music collection. Archives and Information
        Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Prints and Photographs Collection

San Diego [Pablo Perez Home, built in 1854 in San Diego, Texas] (1970/101-
        1304), Fannie Ratchford collection, Prints and photographs collection. Archives
        and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Online Document

Stephen F. Austin to Jose Antonio Navarro, October 19, 1829 [document online],
        Mirabeau B. Lamar papers. Archives and Information Services Division.
        Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Available from
        http://www.tsl.texas.gov/treasures/giants/navarro/austin-navarro-1.html;
        Internet; accessed April 2002.

Monograph Publications

Texas. Capitol Furnishing Board. Report of the Capitol Furnishing Board.
        Austin: Smith, Hicks & Jones, 1889.

Winfrey, Dorman Hayward. A History of Rusk County, Texas. Waco: Texian
        Press, 1961.

Journal Publications

Storey, John W. "Texas Baptist Leadership, the Social Gospel, and Race,
        1954-1968." Southwestern Historical Quarterly, 83 (July 1979): 29-46.

Revised April 2002

Page last modified: February 5, 2019