Tips on how to search our library catalog, IUCAT, for primary and secondary sources. Please get in touch with Catherine J. Minter if you need more help.
One of the most effective ways to search a library catalog is to search by subject. However, the subject terminology that is used in modern library catalogs dates back to the first decades of the twentieth century and is now outdated in many respects. This means that library catalogs such as IUCAT may utilize language that is harmful by modern standards. If you discover harmful or offensive language in the course of using IUCAT for your research, please consider reporting it to us so that we can undertake important reparative cataloging work.
It can be quite challenging to use IUCAT to find primary sources.
One strategy is to search using broad subjects (see some examples below) and then sort the results by date to find out if the library owns documents from the time period you are studying.
You can also search using subjects or keywords and then limit the results by format. Format types that indicate primary sources include manuscripts, "mixed materials," musical scores, and images.
Links to broad subject searches in IUCAT. Some of these terms are harmful by modern standards.
"Miscegenation"--United States.
"Miscegenation"--Southern States.
Racially mixed people--United States.
Racially mixed people--Southern States.
Interracial marriage--United States.
Interracial marriage--Southern States.
Another strategy is to add the names of primary source types to your keyword or subject searches. Examples include:
| anecdotes | exhibitions |
| archives | interviews |
| biography | manuscripts |
| caricatures/cartoons | maps |
| case studies | photography |
| catalogs | portraits |
| comic books | sketchbooks |
| correspondence | songs/music |
| diaries | speeches |
| documentary films | statistics |
Usually, this is easier than finding primary sources. You can search by keyword or subject.
There are many different subject searches that can be used to find secondary sources in IUCAT (see examples below). Some of the following links contain harmful language.
"Miscegenation"--United States--History.
Racially mixed people--United States--History.
Interracial marriage--United States--History.
"Miscegenation" in literature.
Racially mixed people in literature.
Interracial marriage in literature.