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 "African Americans -- Religion."
Because this is an alphabetical search, the order of the words matters; "African Americans-- religion" will have different search results than "Religion -- African Americans."
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; African American religion will have the same search results as religion African Americans. If you wish to search for an exact phrase in the Catalog, then place the phrase in quotes, for example "African American religion."
