This search is an alphabetical search. Alphabetical searches work like the phone book. If you know only the first letter of a person’s last name, you have to flip to that section and start looking. Knowing a few more letters allows you to narrow your search. When you perform an alphabetical search, the system moves through the alphabet until it reaches your first letter. Within that letter, it continues to search until it has reached all of the letters in your search term. For instance, if you select the Object Name search and type in "PAINTING," the system will move first to the P and then to PA and then to PAI and so forth. If there is no exact match, the system will bring back the closest records it can find. The type of information that the system alphabetizes depends on the search you choose. 

The Archives/Library Subject Alphabetical Search will search OHS's list of approved subjects. OHS uses an approved list to make searching the database as accurate and complete as possible. In most cases, you needn't worry about what is or is not on the list. The system has the capability of matching alternative names (such as "Birth Records") with approved names (such as "Birth Certificates).

• Because this is an alphabetical search, the system will start the search with the first letter you've entered. For instance, if you enter "Colonel Crawford," it will start with "C" and then continue with "O" and "L" and so forth.
• Do not type initial articles (such as "An," "The," or "A"). For example, if you wanted to search for Zane Grey's "The Drift Fence" you would enter "Drift Fence."
• Remember that the results are entries from the approved list, not titles of books or names of objects. You must click a subject to view the titles related to that subject.