How to Search
You can search the Finding Aids and Indexes of publically accessible archival collections.
To begin a general search, enter a keyword in the search box and see what comes up in the Search Results.
You can also narrow down your search to bring up specific kinds of records. If you check any of these items, it will bring up records that present information in specific ways.
- Exhibit - search public finding aids and box lists for all collections. This is the best way for public patrons to search the database because Exhibit Finding Aids and Box Lists show the public metadata of our collections.
- Click on the three dots next to the search bar.
- Select "Keyword." Check "Exhibit" and "Exhibit Page" and uncheck the rest of the options. Enter your keyword in the search bar. It will bring up all finding aid and box list pages that have your term in it.
- When arriving to a specific Finding Aid page or box list, use the Ctrl + F keystroke to search for your desired term on that page.
- If you found an item that you want to access, note down the title, collection, and identifier. You can contact the Archives Manager with this information for assistance. Or, if the item is digitized and publically available, you can access it by creating a Researcher Account (see below).
- Here is a video that visualizes all of these steps
- Item - limits search to item records, which have Title, Date, Subject, Source, and Identifier fields that can be used to narrow down searches. Item records may have digitized files attached to them. However, not all item records and digital files are public due to privacy or copyright issues. Please see the Access page to find out how to create a Researcher Account to gain deeper access to the collection.
- File - limits search to public, digitized files attached to item records.
- Collection - limits search to a group of public, item records organized under a shared collection.
ADVANCED SEARCH
The Advanced Search feature allows you to search keywords in specific fields of our item records. This search tool works best to find public item records. It is possible to search private records after Registering and creating an account (see Create Research Account below), or contacting the Archives Manager for assistance.
To Narrow Search by Specific Fields:
- In the "Select Below" field drop down, select one of the main fields used in this database:
- Title - Use this field to enter a keyword that could be used in the description of the item, such as names, titles, subjects, case files, publication types
- Subject - Use this field to enter a keyword that could be used to describe the archive creator's own subject or thematic organization, or classification, of information in the collection
- Source - Use this field to enter a keyword that could be used in the thematic categorization of the collection created by the archivist
- Date - Enter 4 digit year (yyyy) or write out Month Day Year
- Identifier - Name of the box where the archival item is stored. This is a code created by the Archives Manager.
- In the "Select Below" field drop down, select contains
- In the next blank space, enter your search term.
- The field "Search by Collection" allows you to search your term within a specific collection listed in the drop down menu.
- Click Search for items to get search results.
CREATE A RESEARCH ACCOUNT
To gain deeper access to collections, including the private item records and digital collections, please view our Access Policy Page to set up a Researcher account. You can also contact the Archives Manager for assistance.