Search Tips
Searching the Archival Database
- Search by typing a word or phrase in the search box, e.g. "Osler" or
"Royal Victoria Hospital". The default setting is any keyword, which searches for
your term in every part of every fonds and collection record. See below for how records are organised.
- More exact searches can be done by using the drop down menu to specify which part
of the record you want to search. For example, you can search for the word "Osler" just in the
titles of the fonds.
- The Boolean Operator "AND" can also be used between search boxes. AND ensures that the
words or phrases entered in the boxes are all in the record. This will help to
narrow down searches. "Osler" AND "Montreal", for example, would only retrieve
those records where both terms occur.
- The Boolean Operator "OR" can be used as well. This will retrieve records
where either word or phrase entered will be found. "Osler" OR "Montreal" would
retrieve every record with the word "Osler" plus every record with the word "Montreal".
OR is usually used for searches using synonyms, such as "doctor" OR "physician".
- Truncation is automatic in that "Os" would retrieve the full word "Osler".
- The Osler Library Archives database consists of records that describe individual
collections of material, also called fonds. These usually bear the name of the
person who created the records. The database does NOT list individual files or items within each fonds,
such as every letter. The "Scope and Content" section of each record should give
you some idea of what is in each fonds or collection. For more details, please contact the Olser Library.
Browsing the Osler Archives Database
- You can also browse the Osler Library Archival holdings by Title, Retrieval
Number (which begins with a P) or Subject. The use of subject headings in this
database has been selective, not exhaustive.