Including names when citing emails

Hi,

I have received clarifying information from an archivist through email. Some of this information I should cite, since I intend to use it in a publication.

Provided I have obtained permission from the archivist to use identifying information, is it generally recommended or acceptable to include such information in the citation?

On the other hand, if the archivist declines to be identified, then I suppose it must be acceptable to refer to the email generically, using the guidlines found in EE?

Many thanks to EE for your responses!

 

Submitted byEEon Mon, 04/25/2016 - 21:04

Yes, pbaum. If an archivist emails "clarifying information" to you and you use that information in your interpretation and analysis of a record, then certainly that archivist should be personally cited. After all, information is only as good as the informant. Assuming that the archivist offered the information in her or his professional role as an employee of XYZ Institution, then the issue of the archivist not wanting to be identified would not typically arise. If you do find yourself compelled to "credit" the information generically or anonymously, that would affect the reliability of the data in many minds.

Submitted bypbaumon Tue, 05/03/2016 - 18:25

I understand about the reliability issue, but it's up to the archivist, so what can you do?

Thank you very much for your assistance!