Simply enter the word you wish to find and the search engine will search for every instance of the word in the journals. For example: Fight. All instances of the use of the word fight will show up on the results page.
Using an asterisk (*) will increase the odds of finding the results you are seeking. For example: Fight*. The search results will display every instance of fight, fights, fighting, etc. More than one wildcard may be used. For example: *ricar*. This search will return most references to the Aricara tribe, including Ricara, Ricares, Aricaris, Ricaries, Ricaree, Ricareis, and Ricarra. Using a question mark (?) instead of an asterisk (*) will allow you to search for a single character. For example, r?n will find all instances of ran and run, but will not find rain or ruin.
Searches are not case sensitive. For example: george will come up with the same results as George.
Searching for a specific phrase may help narrow down the results. Rather long phrases are no problem. For example: "This white pudding we all esteem".
Because of the creative spellings used by the journalists, it may be necessary to try your search multiple times. For example: P?ro*. This search brings up numerous variant spellings of the French word pirogue, "a large dugout canoe or open boat." Searching for P?*r*og?* will bring up other variant spellings. Searching for canoe or boat also may be helpful.
Entering in only one field | Searches |
---|---|
Year, Month, & Day | Single day |
Year & Month | Whole month |
Year | Whole year |
Month & Day | 1600-#-# to 2100-#-# |
Month | 1600-#-1 to 2100-#-31 |
Day | 1600-01-# to 2100-12-# |
Louis Missouri Nov 5 Dear Pete You will be surprised to get a letter from me away off here—I have been
for me before long)—Shall stay here probably two or three weeks longer, & then back east to Camden— Pete
this city don't agree with me—I have not had a well day, (even for me,) since I have been here— —Well Pete
goes, you must try to keep up a good heart—for I do— So long—from your old Walt Walt Whitman to Peter Doyle
a good time—I send you a paper —yours regularly rec'd received —So long— W W Walt Whitman to Peter Doyle
This postal card is addressed: Pete Doyle | M Street South—bet 4½ & 6th | Washington | D C.