General Help
The online collections catalog has several search options. For a simple keyword search, enter your search term into the main
search field and press the search icon or hit enter.
Capital letters and punctuation are not necessary. For personal names, "last name first" order is not necessary.
Use the * symbol to truncate a word in your search.
Click on the "Search" search button to execute the search.
Click on the "Advanced" button to expand to the advanced search options.
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Simple Search
The simple search option allows users to conduct a keyword-type search in all of the following fields at once:
- Title
- Creator / maker / author / publisher
- Early date
- Late date
- Physical / object description
- Organization / collection
All terms entered in the main search box will be combined using the AND Boolean operator. This means that the search results
will contain records that have all search terms entered.
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Advance Search
The advanced search allows users to search in any combination of the following fields:
- Title
- Creator / maker / author / publisher
- Early date
- Late date
- Physical / object description
- Material type
- Scope
- Place of production / city / country
- Organization / collection
As a default, typing in multiple boxes yields results using the AND Boolean operator. Each field has a drop-down menu to
the left where the Boolean operator (AND, OR, NOT) may be selected. A Boolean search combines terms with the
operators AND, OR, or NOT. AND searches for all terms in the results. OR searches for either or any of the search
terms in the results. NOT excludes records which contain the term(s) entered in this field.
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Results Filters
After you conduct a search, you have the option to narrow search results using results filters. Check the boxes for the filters
you want to apply, and click on "Submit." To clear filters, click on "Clear filters" and then click "Submit."
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Bookmarks
On the Search results page, you have the option to bookmark any records. Either click the white check-box next to each record
to select individual records, or click the "Select all" at the top of the results. Then click "Bookmark selected
records."
Within a Detailed record summary, you can bookmark an individual record by clicking on "Bookmark record" at the top
You can build your set of bookmarked records across multiple searches.
Viewing Bookmarks
On the Bookmarks page, the Actions column on the left allows for printing, emailing, or downloading a .pdf list of the selected
bookmarks. First, select the bookmarks to be printed, emailed, or downloaded by clicking on the check-box for
individual records or clicking on "Select all" above the list. Then, click on the desired action ("Print selected,
" "Email selected," or "Download report").
Be sure to print or email your bookmarked records before leaving the website, as your bookmarked records will be cleared
at the end of your search session.
Clearing Bookmarks
You must clear any bookmarks from the Bookmarks page. Click on the white check-box for individual records or click on "Select
all" above the list. Then, click "Remove from bookmarks" in the Actions column to the left.
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Additional Questions
If you have questions that have not been answered by the Help page content regarding a function or operation of the database
please send us an email.
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Portrait of Iowa territorial governor Robert Lucas, derived from original daguerreotype in collections of the State Historical Society of Iowa. {Photo No. PH5000.1306]
Bookplate portrait of Robert Lucas who served as Iowa's first territorial governor from 1838 to 1841. Artist unattributed in this version. [Photo No. PH8277]
