How to Cite Documents
Complete citation guide for academic and professional use
Last Updated: January 2026
Citation Template
Use the following template structure for citing documents from this archive:
Basic Template:
Author(s). "Description." Date. Document ID.
Each document in the archive has a unique Document ID that should always be included in citations for verification purposes.
Chicago Style (Notes-Bibliography)
Chicago style is commonly used in history, law, and humanities.
Format:
Author First Name Last Name, "Document Description," Document Type, Date, Document ID, Archive Name.
Example: Email Citation
Jeffrey Epstein, "Email to Mette-Marit," Email, October 15, 2012, Document ID MME-2012-10-15-E-001, DOJ Epstein Files Archive.
Example: Correspondence
Lesley Groff, "Letter to Crown Princess Office," Correspondence, March 22, 2013, Document ID MME-2013-03-22-C-003, DOJ Epstein Files Archive.
Example: Flight Manifest
"Flight Manifest: Teterboro to St. Thomas," Flight Record, November 8, 2011, Document ID FM-2011-11-08-001, DOJ Epstein Files Archive.
Bibliography Entry:
Epstein, Jeffrey. "Email to Mette-Marit." Email. October 15, 2012. Document ID MME-2012-10-15-E-001. DOJ Epstein Files Archive.
MLA Style (9th Edition)
MLA style is commonly used in literature, arts, and humanities.
Format:
Last Name, First Name. "Document Description." Day Month Year. Document ID.
Example: Email Citation
Epstein, Jeffrey. "Email to Mette-Marit." 15 Oct. 2012. Document ID MME-2012-10-15-E-001.
Example: Text Message
Nikolic, Boris. "Text Message to Epstein." 5 June 2014. Document ID TXT-2014-06-05-BN-001.
Example: Deposition
Maxwell, Ghislaine. "Deposition Transcript." 22 Apr. 2016. Document ID DEP-2016-04-22-GM-001.
APA Style (7th Edition)
APA style is commonly used in social sciences, psychology, and education.
Format:
Last Name, F. I. (Year, Month Day). Document description [Document ID]. Archive Name.
Example: Email Citation
Epstein, J. (2012, October 15). Email to Mette-Marit [Document ID MME-2012-10-15-E-001]. DOJ Epstein Files Archive.
Example: Meeting Notes
Groff, L. (2013, August 10). Meeting notes regarding charitable event [Document ID MN-2013-08-10-LG-001]. DOJ Epstein Files Archive.
Example: Unsealed Document
U.S. District Court. (2024, January 3). Unsealed court filing [Document ID USC-2024-01-03-001]. DOJ Epstein Files Archive.
Document Types and Citation Notes
Different document types may require slight adjustments to citation format:
Email Thread
Include sender, subject, and date of first email in thread. Note if citing specific message within thread.
Text Message
Include sender name, date, and time if available. Note if message is part of a conversation thread.
Flight Manifest
Include flight date, origin, destination, and document ID. No author attribution typically necessary.
Deposition
Include deponent name, date of deposition, case name if known, and page numbers if citing specific testimony.
Unsealed Documents
Include court name, unsealing date, case reference if available, and document ID.
Redacted Documents
Note "[partially redacted]" after document description if significant portions are redacted.
Citing with SHA-256 Hash
For maximum verification, include the document's SHA-256 hash in academic citations:
Extended Format:
Author. "Description." Date. Document ID [SHA-256: first 16 characters of hash].
Example with Hash:
Epstein, Jeffrey. "Email to Mette-Marit." October 15, 2012. Document ID MME-2012-10-15-E-001 [SHA-256: a7b3c9d2e4f6g8h1].
This allows readers to verify the exact document version you cited has not been modified.
In-Text Citations
How to reference documents within your text:
Chicago (Footnote)
In text: "Epstein wrote to the Crown Princess..." with superscript number
Footnote: Jeffrey Epstein, "Email to Mette-Marit," October 15, 2012, Document ID MME-2012-10-15-E-001.
MLA (Parenthetical)
"Epstein wrote to the Crown Princess..." (Epstein, "Email to Mette-Marit").
APA (Author-Date)
"Epstein wrote to the Crown Princess..." (Epstein, 2012).
Multiple Documents Citation
When citing multiple documents from the archive:
Chicago Style:
Jeffrey Epstein, "Email to Mette-Marit," October 15, 2012, Document ID MME-2012-10-15-E-001; Lesley Groff, "Follow-up Letter," October 18, 2012, Document ID MME-2012-10-18-C-001, DOJ Epstein Files Archive.
For Bulk Citations:
DOJ Epstein Files Archive, "Crown Princess Correspondence Collection," Documents MME-2012-10-15-E-001 through MME-2012-12-31-E-045 (October-December 2012).
Best Practices
Always Include Document ID
The Document ID is essential for verification and locating the exact document.
Note Redactions
If citing a redacted document, note this in your citation for transparency.
Verify Before Citing
Always verify document authenticity using the archive's verification tools before citing.
Check for Updates
Documents may be updated or corrected. Note the version or access date if relevant.
Preserve Context
When quoting, provide sufficient context to avoid misrepresentation.
Follow Institutional Guidelines
Your institution may have specific requirements for citing archival materials.