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Researching Photography

Offers help for students in history of photography classes at Princeton

Citation for art history

1. Consult the Princeton Dept. of Art & Archaeology's Department Style Sheet .

2. See the CAA Publications Style Guide (College Art Association).

3. Style Manual for Art History (Chicago Manual examples), from Lee Sorensen, Visual Studies Librarian at Duke University.

Citing Works of Art, Exhibition Catalogs, & Wall Text

See the following for guidance: 

1. Turabian, Kate L.  A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 7th ed.  Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, 2007.

See section 17.8.1 Visual Sources, pp. 200-201; and, 17.8.7 and 19.8.7. Texts in the Visual and Performing Arts: Art Exhibition Catalogs, p. 204; 269-70.

Copies available in the reserve reading room in Firestone, in General and Humanities Reference (Ready Reference) in Firestone, Marquand Reference and Mendel; a newer 2013 ed. is available as well, call number LB2369.T8 2013. There is an online version of MLA available now that PUL may provide access to very soon.

2.  Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th ed. New York: Modern Language Association, 2003.

See section  5.8.6 A Painting, Sculpture, or Photograph, pp. 201-202.

Copies available in Architecture, Stokes, Firestone, General and Humanities Reference (Ready Reference) in Firestone, Lewis, and Marquand libraries: LB2369.G53 2003. (7th ed., pub. in 2009,, and 8th ed., pub. in 2016 are also now available).  Also, see Visual Art as Type of Source here.

3. The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th ed. Chicago: Chicago University Press, 2003.

See section 17.240 Exhibition Catalogs.

Multiple copies are available in campus libraries, and online (Princeton only: also includes 16th ed.).

4. For museum wall text accompanying a work(s) of art:

a. If the information on the museum label also appears on the museum's website or in a collection catalog (which it often does), those sources can be cited instead.  If not, include all information that may be important, such as:

Note:

23. Museum label for artist, Title of artwork, New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 23 August 2004 [optional: name and date of exhibition, additional information of interest].

Bibliography:

Metropolitan Museum of art. Museum label for artist, Title of artwork, New York, 23 August 2004.

-New School University, New York, New York

b.  To cite materials posted at a museum, use the following style:

Format of information (wall text, object label, brochure), Gallery Name, Number or Exhibition Title, Museum Name, City, State.

example:  Wall text, Playful Performers, National Museum of African Art, Washington, D.C.

-University of Maryland, http://www.arthistory-archaeology.umd.edu/ARTHwebsitedecommissionedNov32008/webresources/courses/ARTH275/SP05/guidelinesciting.htm

And, if for a temporary exhibition, include the date(s).