Search Help

Simple Search

At the search page:

1. Type in your search term(s), (names, words, or dates)
   Note: The search term(s) do not have to be complete i.e. Cairns will find Dr. Jim Cairns
2. Select an appropriate search option from the adjacent drop-down menu.
   They include:
   • Title,
   • Description,
   • Collection names
   • Name,
   • Key Names,
   • Places, Organisations, Events
   • Buildings,
   • Subjects,
   • Record ID,
   • and Accession No
3. Click on your selected option. It now appears in the input box
4. Click on Search
5. The results of your search will be displayed below the search dialogue - scroll down for the corresponding thumbnail images and brief description of the corresponding record(s).

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Advanced Search

The advanced search provides a more specific search.

Apply a simple search, then:

1. Type in your second search term(s), (names, words, or dates) in the second search field.
   Note: The search term(s) do not have to be complete i.e. Cairns will find Dr. Jim Cairns
2. Select an appropriate search option from the adjacent drop-down menu.
   They are the same search options as are available for the simple search.
3. Click on your selected option. It now appears in the input box
4. Click on Search
5. The results of your search will be displayed below the search dialogue - scroll down for the corresponding thumbnail images and brief description of the corresponding record(s).

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Search Options

The search options available allow for specific searches in selected fields and include:
[Title] [Description][Collection] [Key Names] [Places, Organisations, Events] [Buildings] [Subject] [Record ID] [Accession No]

Title

This is the title attributed to the image.
This format can be used when the title (or part of it) is known. It is not necessary for the complete title to be entered. Any name (surname or first name will suffice), word or date submitted in the search field will be searched in the title field.

Example - in the title field: type in the search word Gough
This will display an image with the title: Gough Whitlam at Whitlam rally

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Description

This is a very broad search option.
Any name, word, format or date submitted in the search field will be searched in the description search field.

Example - in the description field type in the search word : Students
This will display an image with the description: Interior of Baillieu Library (opened 1959), showing students gathered around loans desk and a librarian seated behind the desk. Sign on wall in background: 'Essay Lists and Reading Guides'

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Collection Name

This is the name attributed to the collection and the collection name search is recommended when the name is known. i.e. John Ellis denotes all images in the collection

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Key Names

This is a very broad search option. Any name submitted in the search field will be searched in the Key names field. Please note that although it is comprehensive it is by no means complete and additional names can be found in the description and subject field. Only prominent individuals are included as Key Names and subjects.

Example - in the keyword field: type in the search word Baldwin
this will display an image entitled: Professor Walter Baldwin Spencer, University of Melbourne, 1914-1918

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Places, Organisations, Events

Any place, organisation and event submitted in the search field will be searched in the Places, Organisations, Events field or in the subject field.

Example - type in the search word Lilydale:
Under key search term, this will display an image(s) recording the place Lilydale

or - type in the search words Communist Party of Australia:
Under key search term, this will display an image(s) recording the organisation Communist Party of Australia

or - type in the search word: Anti Vietnam
Under key search term, this will display an image(s) recording the event Anti-Vietnam War Moratorium

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Buildings

Any building(s) submitted in the search field will be searched in the buildings field.

Example - in the building field type in the search word Museum
Under key search term, this will display an image entitled: The Old Museum, University of Melbourne

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Subject

This is the broadest search option and the search is based on Library of Congress subject headings. Use the most specific term(s) possible.

Example - in the subject field type in the search word Protest
This will display an image(s) recording protest and entitled: Banners- -Victoria- -Melbourne- -Photographs' 'Persian Gulf War, 1991- - Protest movements- -Victoria- -Melbourne

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Record ID

This is the unique numeric identification number assigned to the image and if known is the quickest way to retrieve a record

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Accession No.

This is the unique number allocated to every individual accession and if known the accession number is the quickest way to retrieve a record. In the full description the accession number is linked to the accession record
Note: many of the photographs were never attributed with accession numbers