Refining Search Results

Refining Search Results

By default, a site-wide search returns results with the desired term or phrase found either in the metadata and/or in any full-text transcript. To refine your results, try applying one or more filters.  

  • Search type –  Displays when a user has arrived via a search (versus navigating via "Collections A-Z" or by browsing collecting areas). De-select "Metadata" or "Full text" and click "Apply" to limit results.
  • File Type – Limits results to either audio, visual, or text-based formats.
  • Date range – Supply as much detail as desired; only returns records with numerical dates.
  • Collections – Limits results to a particular digital collection.

In addition, results can be filtered by the Controlled Vocabulary fields located below the other filters. Examples of Controlled Vocabulary fields include: several collection derived terms, Copyright Status, various Subject terms, Language, Medium, and more. These filters present a list of terms based on available metadata. Click the arrow on the right to view the list of terms and make your selections. The number displayed beside the arrow indicates the number of available terms. The number displayed in the circle to the right of the filter name indicates the number of terms selected.

Once one or more terms are selected, be sure to click "Apply."