search tips for field books on smithsonian collection search center

TIPS ON HOW TO SEARCH FIELD BOOKS

Search methods for field book records on Smithsonian’s Collection Search Center

The Field Book Project

Creation of the Field Book Registry December 2012, records were made available

to the public Records continue to be added and updated

Nearly 8,800 Field Book catalog records on SCSC.

Field Book Content

Cataloging StructureCollection Record

Title: Edgar Alexander Mearns, field books, 1890-1924Owner: SmithsonianCreator: Mearns, Edgar A.

Item Record

Title: Field notes and Journal, March 25 - April 5, 1885Dates: 1881, 1885Creator: Mearns, Edgar A.Expedition: Smithsonian-Roosevelt African Expedition

Person RecordName: Mearns, Edgar A.(Edgar Alexander), 1856-1916

Expedition RecordName: Smithsonian-Roosevelt African Expedition

Organization Record

Name: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Division of Birds

Smithsonian’s Collection Search Center

• 8.1 million records from Units across Smithsonian

• Field Book Project includes nearly 8,800 records from 8 departments

• Check out our FAQ page

Getting Started

One can quickly locate field books relating to:

• Digitized field book content

• Formats• Scientific disciplines• Field book creators• Geography• Time

How do I limit my search to just Field Book Registry Records?

Select Cataloging Record Source “Field Book Registry.”

How do I limit my search to just the field books (no collection, person, organization or expedition records)?

Limit the search category Type to “field notes.”

How do I limit my search to one natural history discipline?

Select Topic

How do I locate field books that are housed in one of the departments or divisions of the NMNH? 

  To locate field books and collections in various

departments use the following keyword searches in quotations.

e.g. “National Museum of Natural History (U.S.). Division of Birds”

How do I find the contact information for the Department or Division that houses the field book I’m interested in?Expand the field book record that you’re interested in and about halfway down the record, you’ll see Access Information listed.  

How do I limit my search to a type of record? 

To limit the search to just field books, select search category Type “field notes.” 

Other types of records can be selected by using the keyword searches in quotations (e.g. “Personal name” for Individual collectors)

How do I limit my search to digitized field books?

Select Online Media and limit to “Electronic Resource”

What kind of information can I find with the search category “Type”?

This can give you a lot of information about the format of the field book.

How much location information is searchable through the search category “Place”? 

These levels of specificity can be seen in the category Location.

How much information is available when limiting a search by “Date”? 

Limiting your search by date can be a great way to filter results.

Thank you for attending!

Any questions???Lesley Parilla

Cataloger

Field Book Project

Smithsonian Institution Archives /

National Museum of Natural History

Parillal[at]si.edu