How to Cite an Unpublished Manuscript in Chicago Format

Understanding Unpublished Manuscript Citations in Chicago

Unpublished manuscripts, including dissertations, theses, archival documents, and personal papers, are valuable research sources. Chicago style provides guidelines for citing these materials while acknowledging their unpublished status and location in archives or institutional repositories.

Basic Unpublished Manuscript Citation Format

The standard Chicago format for unpublished manuscripts is: Author Last Name, First Name. “Manuscript Title.” Type of Document (e.g., dissertation, thesis, manuscript). Institution/Archive, Date.

Include the author’s name, the manuscript title in quotation marks, the document type, the institution or archive holding it, and the date.

Unpublished Dissertation

A standard dissertation citation:

Smith, John. “The History of American Democracy: A Comprehensive Analysis.” PhD diss., Harvard University, 2024.

Include “PhD diss.” or “Master’s thesis” with the institution and year.

Master’s Thesis

For master’s theses:

Johnson, Maria. “Climate Change Impacts on Agricultural Systems.” Master’s thesis, Stanford University, 2023.

Archival Manuscript

For documents in archives or special collections:

Roosevelt, Eleanor. “Letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt.” Letter, April 15, 1935. Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, New York.

Include the document type, date, and the specific archive and location.

Unpublished Draft or Working Paper

For unpublished manuscripts circulating as drafts:

Williams, David. “The Future of Technology in Higher Education.” Unpublished manuscript, January 2024.

Note it as an unpublished manuscript with the date.

Dissertation in Database

For dissertations accessed through databases:

Garcia, Miguel. “International Trade and Economic Development.” PhD diss., University of California, Berkeley, 2023. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global.

Include the database name if the dissertation is accessed online.

In-Person Manuscript

For documents accessed in person at archives:

Chen, Li. “Journal Entries from the Cultural Revolution.” Unpublished journal. Personal collection, Beijing, China. Accessed March 15, 2024.

Include where you accessed the manuscript and the date.

Footnote Citation for Manuscripts

In Chicago style, first citation in footnotes:

1. John Smith, “The History of American Democracy: A Comprehensive Analysis” (PhD diss., Harvard University, 2024), 45.

Subsequent shortened citations:

2. Smith, “History of American Democracy,” 67.

Examples for Different Manuscript Types

Archival Letter

Lincoln, Abraham. “Letter to William Seward.” Letter, December 25, 1862. Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Handwritten Diary

Thoreau, Henry David. “Walden Journal Entries.” Handwritten journal, 1845-1847. Thoreau Collections, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Typed Manuscript

Faulkner, William. “The Sound and the Fury: Early Draft.” Typescript manuscript, 1928. William Faulkner Collection, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.

Institutional Archive

National Archives. “Record Group 59: Correspondence Files.” Unpublished document. National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland.

Citing Specific Pages or Sections

When referencing specific portions:

Smith, John. “The History of American Democracy,” PhD diss., Harvard University, 2024, 234-256.

Include page ranges for specific sections you’re referencing.

Collection Information

For items in named collections:

Williams, Mary. “Correspondence with Literary Contemporaries.” Unpublished letters. Mary Williams Papers, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

Include the collection name and holding institution.

Bibliography Entry

In the bibliography, format as:

Smith, John. “The History of American Democracy: A Comprehensive Analysis.” PhD diss., Harvard University, 2024.

Bibliography entries follow standard Chicago format with hanging indents.

Using GenText for Manuscript Citations

GenText streamlines unpublished manuscript citation in Chicago format by organizing author information, document types, and archive details. The tool ensures consistent formatting and complete documentation.

Finding Archival Materials

Locating unpublished manuscripts:

• University libraries and archives
• The Library of Congress
• National Archives and Records Administration
• Specialized archive websites (FDR Library, etc.)
• Digital History projects
• University thesis databases

Common Citation Elements

Essential elements for manuscript citations:

• Author or creator name
• Document title
• Document type (dissertation, letter, journal, etc.)
• Date
• Holding institution or archive name
• Location
• Page or section numbers
• Access date (if important for availability)

Common Citation Mistakes

• Missing archive information: Always specify where the manuscript is held.
• Incomplete document type: Clearly indicate if it’s a dissertation, thesis, letter, or other manuscript type.
• Omitting date information: Include the creation or writing date.
• Missing collection name: For archival materials, include the collection name when relevant.

Access and Permissions

Some manuscripts have access restrictions. Note if access is limited:

Smith, John. “Confidential Research Notes.” Unpublished manuscript. Held in Special Collections (access restricted until 2050). University Archives, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts.

Manuscript vs. Published Work

Distinguish unpublished manuscripts from published books or articles. Unpublished status requires archival information and lacks standard publication details.

When to Cite Unpublished Manuscripts

Unpublished manuscript citations are important for:

• Historical research
• Archival studies
• Graduate thesis and dissertation research
• Literary and personal papers analysis
• Institutional and organizational history
• Primary source documentation

By following Chicago guidelines for unpublished manuscript citations, you properly document archival sources and enable readers to locate and verify your sources.