Tips for Searching
KEYWORD SEARCH:
The KEYWORD SEARCH tab allows you to perform a general search across all fields.
KEYWORD SEARCH uses an OR connector between words. For example, a search for Congregational Church will return records containing the word Congregational OR Church.
If you want to find records where BOTH words are found, put an AND between the two words.
If you want to find records containing a specific phrase, put it within quotes. For example, “Uncle Tim’s Bridge”.
You can also use an asterisk after the word as a way to expand your search. For example, a search for Chequesset* will return records containing the words Chequesset and Chequessett (to account for alternate spellings).
KEYWORD SEARCHES are NOT case sensitive.
ADVANCED SEARCH:
The ADVANCED SEARCH tab allows you to be more specific with your search. You can search for a word or phrase within a particular field or you can use multiple fields to further narrow your search results.
For example, a search for White in the PEOPLE field will return records associated with the White family (but not all black and white photographs).
The ADVANCED SEARCH is more accurate when records are catalogued specifically within fields (rather than everything in the DESCRIPTION field as it is now). Therefore the ADVANCED SEARCH option will improve as the public helps us index and better describe the collection.
This is an ongoing effort so we encourage users to click the SEND US FEEDBACK button within each individual record if the description is incorrect or if there is more to add.
PHOTOS:
PHOTOS is a way to just browse the collection in no specific order. As you flip back and forth between pages, the list of 20 thumbnails per page changes. Therefore, the only way you can keep track of the records you have already visited is by noticing the color PURPLE, which indicates thumbnails you have already clicked on (to view the record’s larger image).
This will still also allow you to perform a KEYWORD SEARCH across multiple fields as described above.
UNDERLINED SEARCH TERMS WITHIN EACH RECORD:
Within each record, you can click on any underlined SEARCH TERM to see the group of other records also containing this SEARCH TERM.
