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The Visual Resources Database contains descriptions of objects in the Minnesota Historical Society's photograph, art, poster and fine art photograph collections and images of many of them. You can search the collections in two ways:
- Basic Search:
- Finds objects based on Keywords in the title, subjects, artist/creator's name, artist/creator's nationality, artist/creator's role, and publisher. This search also allows you to locate items by Date.
You can also search for items by their location and/or negative number.
- Advanced Search:
- Finds objects based on other specialized indexes as well as words found in the title, subjects, artist/creator's name, artist/creator's nationality, artist/creator's role, and publisher. These specialized indexes are:
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In every index the asterisk symbol " * " acts as a wildcard. For example, entering " ander* " in the Artist/creator's name search box will return all items by Anders, Anderson, Andersen, etc.
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Both the basic and advanced searches, by default, return all records. To perform a search for only those records with corresponding images, check the box labeled "Show only those with digital images." This will ensure that all items that match your search parameters also have digital images.
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Keywords:
Search the Visual Resources Database by entering one or more words in the keywords search box. Using multiple words will help narrow your search. By entering a keyword you will be searching all of the following fields: Title, Subjects, Artist/creator's name, Artist/creator's nationality, Artist/creator's role, and Publisher. It is not necessary to use punctuation.
EXAMPLE:
| Keywords: |
Searches For: |
| fishing |
Returns all objects with "fishing" in any of the fields listed above. |
| fishing itasca lake |
Returns all objects with "fishing" AND "itasca" AND "lake" in any of the fields listed above.
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Date:
If you are looking for objects by date, enter the year(s) in both the Year From and Year To boxes. For objects created between 1900 and 1930, enter "1900" in the Year From search box and "1930" in the Year To search box. To search for a single year, type the same year in both boxes.
EXAMPLE:
| Year From: |
Year To: |
Searches For: |
| 1900 |
1930 |
Returns all objects created from 1900 through 1930 |
| 1970 |
1970 |
Returns all objects that were created in 1970 |
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Artist/creator:
If you are looking for work by a particular artist or creator, enter the name in the artist/creator search box. The order in which you enter the name does not matter. For example: "runk john" and "john runk" will return the same results. There is no need to insert a comma.
EXAMPLE:
| Artist/creator: |
Searches For: |
| runk |
Returns all objects with "runk" in the artist/creator field. |
| john runk |
Returns all objects with "john" AND "runk"in the artist/creator field. |
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Type:
If you are searching for a particular kind of object, select an option from the pull-down menu on the Advanced Search screen. The results displayed will reflect all of the Society's current holdings of the type of original you selected. Please note that you can select more than one type from any combination of the four collections. The default "All" will search for all types.
EXAMPLE:
| Type: |
Searches For: |
| postcard |
Returns all objects with "postcard" in the type field. |
| postcard oil |
Returns all objects with "postcard" OR "oil"in the type field. |
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Location Number:
Every object in the Visual Resources Database is assigned a unique location number. This location number is similar to a library call number. If you know all or part of the location number for the particular object, enter it in the location number search box. Be sure to use appropriate spacing.
EXAMPLE:
| Location No.: |
Searches For: |
| GV3.21 |
Returns all objects with "GV3.21" in the Location number field |
| GV3.21 p7 |
Returns the object with the unique location number "GV3.21 p7" |
| AV1989.44.246 |
Returns the object with the unique location number "AV1989.44.246" |
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Negative Number:
Many of the objects in the Visual Resources Database contain a unique negative number. If you know the negative number for the particular object, enter it in the negative number search box. Note: not all objects have a negative number.
EXAMPLE:
| Negative No.: |
Searches For: |
| 60010 |
Returns the object with this unique negative number |
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