Subject search vs. Keyword search
Searching for Primary Sources
The following terms are found in the subject headings of records for published primary sources.
- sources
- diaries
- personal narratives
- songs
- pamphlets
- speeches
- maps
- caricatures and cartoons
- pictorial works (for compilations of photographs or other visual materials)
- specimens
- periodicals
Sample catalog searches
There are two main ways that you can search the SUBJECT field in the Library catalog.
1. If you want to browse subject terms, select "Browse Alphabetically: Subject" from the drop-down menu and search on broad categories, like "Temperance -- Religion."
Because this is an alphabetical search, the word order matters; "Temperance-- religion" will have different search results than "Religion -- Temperance."
2. If you want to find resources with your terms anywhere in the subject field, search the Library Catalog and select SUBJECT from the drop down menu.
The order of the words does not matter in a keyword search; temperance religion will have the same search results as religion temperance.
