How To Cite A Letter In Mla

Letters, whether historical or contemporary, personal or professional, offer valuable insights and perspectives that can enrich academic research. Citing them correctly in MLA (Modern Language Association) style ensures that you give proper credit to the author and allow your readers to locate the source, if possible. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of citing letters in MLA format, covering various scenarios and providing clear examples.

Understanding the Basics of MLA Citation

MLA style emphasizes brevity and clarity. The core principle is to provide just enough information for readers to identify the source and locate it themselves, if necessary. The citation format varies slightly depending on whether you accessed the letter in its original form, in a published collection, or online. Before delving into specific examples, let's establish some fundamental elements of MLA citation:

• Author: The name of the letter's writer. If the author is unknown, begin with the recipient's name.
• Recipient: The name of the person to whom the letter was addressed.
• Date: The date the letter was written, formatted as Day Month Year (e.g., 1 January 2023).
• Location (if applicable): Where the original letter is housed (e.g., a specific archive or library).
• Title of Collection/Book (if applicable): If the letter is part of a published collection, include the title of that collection.
• Editor/Translator (if applicable): If the collection has an editor or if the letter is translated, include their name.
• Publisher: The publisher of the collection or book.
• Publication Year: The year the collection or book was published.
• Page Numbers: The page numbers where the letter appears in the collection.
• URL (if applicable): If accessed online, include the stable URL.
• Access Date (if applicable): The date you accessed the online letter.

These elements will be arranged in a specific order depending on the context of the citation. Now, let’s examine the most common scenarios and their corresponding MLA citation formats.

Citing an Unpublished Letter in MLA

An unpublished letter refers to a letter that exists only in its original form or as a manuscript in an archive or private collection. This is one of the more complex citations, as it requires detailed information about the letter's location.

Works Cited Entry:

Author Last Name, Author First Name. Letter to Recipient First Name Recipient Last Name. Date. Name of Archive/Repository, Location of Archive/Repository.

Example:

Woolf, Virginia. Letter to Vita Sackville-West. 20 Jan. 1926. The British Library, London.

Explanation:

• The author's last name is listed first, followed by their first name.
• The recipient's first and last names are included.
• The date is formatted as Day Month Year.
• The name of the archive or repository where the letter is housed is included, along with its location.

In-Text Citation:

(Author Last Name)

Example:

(Woolf)

If you cite multiple letters by the same author, you may need to add a shortened title or date to differentiate them.

Example (Multiple Letters by the Same Author):

(Woolf, "20 Jan. 1926")

Key Considerations for Unpublished Letters:

• Specificity is Crucial: Provide as much detail as possible about the archive or repository. Include the department or collection name if relevant.
• Permission to Quote: Be aware of copyright restrictions and obtain permission from the copyright holder before quoting extensively from unpublished letters. Many archives require researchers to sign agreements regarding usage.
• Accessibility: Recognize that unpublished letters may not be easily accessible to all researchers. Provide enough detail to allow others to locate the source if they wish to.

Citing a Letter from a Published Collection in MLA

Letters are often published in collections, either by a single author or as part of a broader compilation of correspondence. Citing a letter from a published collection is generally simpler than citing an unpublished letter.

Works Cited Entry:

Author Last Name, Author First Name. "Title of Letter (if any)." Title of Collection, edited by Editor First Name Last Name (if applicable), Publisher, Publication Year, Page Numbers.

Example:

James, Henry. "To William James." Henry James: A Life in Letters, edited by Philip Horne, Viking, 1999, pp. 245-47.

Explanation:

• The author of the letter is listed first.
• If the letter has a title, include it in quotation marks. If not, omit this element.
• The title of the collection is italicized.
• The editor of the collection (if any) is included, preceded by "edited by."
• The publisher and publication year are included.
• The page numbers where the letter appears in the collection are specified.

In-Text Citation:

(Author Last Name Page Number)

Example:

(James 246)

Key Considerations for Published Collections:

• Editor's Role: If the editor has made significant contributions to the collection, such as providing introductions or annotations, their name should be included in the citation.
• Letter Titles: Some letters have formal titles, while others do not. If a title is provided, use it. If not, you can create a brief descriptive title, but this is not always necessary.
• Page Ranges: Provide the full page range for the letter, even if you only cite a single passage from it.

Citing a Letter Found Online in MLA

With the proliferation of digital archives and online databases, many letters are now accessible online. Citing these letters requires including the URL and access date.

Works Cited Entry:

Author Last Name, Author First Name. "Title of Letter (if any)." Date. Title of Website, Publisher or Sponsoring Organization (if available), URL. Accessed Day Month Year.

Example:

Roosevelt, Eleanor. Letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt. 17 Mar. 1936. The Eleanor Roosevelt Papers Digital Edition, George Washington University, www.gwu.edu/~erpapers/. Accessed 15 Aug. 2023.

Explanation:

• The author and recipient are listed as described previously.
• The title of the letter (if available) is included in quotation marks.
• The date is included.
• The title of the website or online archive is italicized.
• The publisher or sponsoring organization (if available) is included.
• The stable URL is provided. Avoid using shortened URLs.
• The access date is included, indicating when you accessed the letter online.

In-Text Citation:

(Author Last Name)

Example:

(Roosevelt)

If the letter is part of a larger collection online, you might also include a shortened title or date in the in-text citation for clarity.

Key Considerations for Online Letters:

• Stable URLs: Use permalinks or stable URLs whenever possible. These are less likely to change over time than regular URLs.
• Website Authority: Evaluate the credibility of the website or online archive. Is it a reputable source? Is the letter accurately transcribed?
• Access Date: Always include the access date, as online content can change or disappear.
• Publisher Information: If the website does not explicitly state a publisher or sponsoring organization, you can often find this information in the "About Us" section or the website's footer.

Citing a Translated Letter in MLA

If you are using a translated version of a letter, you need to acknowledge the translator in your citation.

Works Cited Entry:

Author Last Name, Author First Name. "Title of Letter (if any)." Translated by Translator First Name Last Name, Title of Collection, edited by Editor First Name Last Name (if applicable), Publisher, Publication Year, Page Numbers.

Example:

Kafka, Franz. "To Oskar Pollak, November 8, 1903." Translated by Tania and James Stern, Letters to Friends, Family, and Editors, Schocken Books, 1977, pp. 3-4.

Explanation:

• The author of the letter is listed first.
• The title of the letter (if any) is included in quotation marks.
• The translator is indicated with "Translated by" followed by their name.
• The remaining elements follow the format for citing a letter from a published collection.

In-Text Citation:

(Author Last Name Page Number)

Example:

(Kafka 3)

Key Considerations for Translated Letters:

• Translator's Importance: Acknowledge the translator's role in making the letter accessible to you. Their choices can influence the interpretation of the text.
• Original Language: If relevant, you can mention the original language of the letter in your analysis.
• Multiple Translations: If multiple translations exist, consider comparing them to gain a deeper understanding of the letter's nuances.

Citing a Letter with an Unknown Author in MLA

In some cases, the author of a letter may be unknown. In these situations, begin the citation with the recipient's name.

Works Cited Entry:

Recipient Last Name, Recipient First Name. Letter from Unknown Author. Date. Name of Archive/Repository, Location of Archive/Repository. OR "Title of Letter (if any)." Title of Collection, edited by Editor First Name Last Name (if applicable), Publisher, Publication Year, Page Numbers.

Example (Unpublished):

Adams, John. Letter from Unknown Author. 4 July 1776. National Archives, Washington D.C.

Example (Published):

Smith, John. "Letter from Unknown Author." Early American Correspondence, edited by Jane Doe, University Press, 2000, pp. 100-102.

Explanation:

• Begin with the recipient's last name, followed by their first name.
• Indicate that the author is unknown.
• Follow the appropriate format for unpublished or published letters.

In-Text Citation:

(Recipient Last Name)

Example:

(Adams)

Key Considerations for Letters with Unknown Authors:

• Context is Key: Provide as much contextual information as possible to help readers understand the letter's significance.
• Attribution: If you can speculate about the author's identity based on internal evidence, you can mention this in your analysis, but be clear that it is speculation.

Citing E-mail Correspondence in MLA

While less formal than traditional letters, email correspondence can sometimes be a valuable source for research. Here’s how to cite it in MLA style:

Works Cited Entry:

Author Last Name, Author First Name. “Subject Line of Email.” Email to Recipient First Name Last Name. Date of Email.

Example:

Doe, Jane. “Re: Project Proposal.” Email to John Smith. 15 Jan. 2023.

Explanation:

• Start with the author of the email.
• Include the subject line in quotation marks.
• Indicate that it is an email to the recipient.
• Provide the date the email was sent.

In-Text Citation:

(Author Last Name)

Example:

(Doe)

Key Considerations for Email Correspondence:

• Permission: Always obtain permission from the author before citing personal email correspondence.
• Relevance: Only cite email correspondence that is directly relevant to your research.
• Professionalism: Maintain a professional tone when discussing email correspondence in your work.

General Tips for Citing Letters in MLA

• Consult the MLA Handbook: This guide provides comprehensive information on MLA style and should be your primary resource for citation questions.
• Be Consistent: Apply the same citation format consistently throughout your work.
• Double-Check Your Citations: Errors in citations can undermine your credibility. Proofread carefully to ensure accuracy.
• Use a Citation Management Tool: Tools like Zotero or Mendeley can help you organize your sources and generate citations automatically.
• When in Doubt, Provide More Information: It is better to include too much information than too little. The goal is to make it easy for readers to locate your sources.

Conclusion

Citing letters in MLA style requires attention to detail and a clear understanding of the source material. By following the guidelines and examples provided in this comprehensive guide, you can ensure that you give proper credit to the authors of letters and provide your readers with the information they need to locate these valuable sources. Remember to consult the MLA Handbook for further guidance and to adapt these examples to your specific research context. Proper citation is a cornerstone of academic integrity, and mastering the art of citing letters will enhance the quality and credibility of your work.