Searching for a subject

Manuscript and archival materials are described by the same Library of Congress subject headings (LCSH) used for books. It is important to understand that LCSH is a controlled vocabulary. You will need to know the correct phrasing of a search term for the computer system to successfully identify records relevant to your research.

In order to determine a possible subject term, you can review the cataloging for a secondary source to learn what subject terms were used to describe it. You can also try what you think might be the subject. If the term is not correct, many times Orbis will give you the proper formulation of the LC subject heading.

Try searching Orbis for the subject: medical insurance

You will see that Orbis gives a list of subject headings, and your search term has zero results. If you click on the MORE INFO button, the system provides the authorized subject term, which in this case is Insurance, Health.

When you click on the bracketed number for your search term, the system displays search results that include books, serials, and all other formats of material cataloged with this subject term. If the search results are lengthy, you may want to refine your search and limit the results to a certain format or a particular library or collection location. Try refining your last search to identify collections in Manuscripts and Archives.

• Click on the POST LIMIT button (at the top right of the results list) and look in the Item Type box.
• Highlight Archives and Manuscripts (1 of 2, select both) hold the Control key and also highlight Archives and Manuscripts (2 of 2, select both).
  (You must select both for this search to be complete.)
• Click on the Set Limits button.

The system immediately executes this search and presents the more limited results.