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.
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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-#-# |
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very pleaseant City They have two or three Theaters going now I was to one of them last evening they Played
ruins)—it was one of those places where the air is full of the scent of low thievery, druggies, foul play
Sometimes we are rather short of grub, and sometimes pretty well played out with hard work, but as long
merchants all mixed together & on the most friendly terms with each other we have all sorts of sports Ball play
would like to see you verry much for I like Uncle Walter verry much now dont think I am trying to play
So you must com down when it gets in full blast a boat will play between here & Washington so it will
performers real good—As I write this I have heard in one direction or another two or three good bands playing
Some of the men are cooking, others washing, cleaning their clothes, others playing ball, smoking lazily
It is better than any play" (Charles E. Feinberg Collection).