Adding images, such as photos and digital pictures, to your sources helps your reader better visualize your research. Several sites provide access to historical photos, for example. A quick web search using the keyphrase “free historical images archive” can yield quite a few sites. Narrow your search to find a more specific image. Then, you’ll need to learn how to properly format your image citations in APA style for your research paper.
Finding Photos for Research
Check the Library of Congress website for historical photos. You may use these free images, but read the copyright statements to make sure you’re citing them correctly. Other resources available include:
- Newspapers
- Manuscripts
- Maps
- Musical scores
Another good site to find images are the National Archives. This website provides links to historical collections, such as the War Relocation archives, covering the Japanese internment camps.
Why You Need to Cite Images
As with any research source, give credit where credit is due! Even if a site provides free use of their photos and images, you still need to cite the artist or website. The Fair Use act covers certain uses of copyrighted images for student use.
APA Format for Image Citations
Photo and image citations follow the APA basic format. Use the artist or photographer’s name, if known, as the first element. Include the URL as the last element.
Basic Format
Artist Last Name, First Initial. Second Initial. (Year). Title of the artwork [Format]. Retrieved from URL
Example
Hubbard, T. (1973). Family watching street performers [Photo]. https://www.archives.gov/files/publications/prologue/2013/spring/seventies.pdf
Image Without Author
If you don’t know the name of the creator of the work, use the title as the first element.
Basic Format
Title of work [Type of work]. (Year image was created). Retrieved from URL
Example
Cast iron block used for target practice [Photo]. (1857). Retrieved from https://fraenkelgallery.com/exhibitions/photographer-unknown-anonymous-photographs-from-the-1840s-to-the-present
No Author, Title, or Date
If you can’t find any information on the author, title or date, simply place the subject, and type of work within brackets and include the URL.
Basic Format
[Subject and type of work]. Retrieved from URL
Example
[Mental institution photo]. Retrieved from https://images.app.goo.gl/HYrS95zZdWiiJevp6
Using Credible Sources
Although it’s possible to find and use images and photos in your research, it’s best to find sources from known experts in their field. Simply pulling random photos from Google images is not a good research method. As with other research sources, use primary images created by authorities in the area of study. As always, be sure to follow your teacher’s guidelines when writing your paper.