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HIST: U.S. Immigration project

Course Guide

Searching with Keywords

Often, you will get a lot of results → to get more relevant results, don't just conduct one search. Try using these ideas:

Consider alternative/similar forms of  Keywords:

Example search:    Irish immigration in America

1. Use synonyms or similar meanings:    immigration / immigrants
2. Try different spellings & punctuation:  Irish Americans / Irish-Americans / American Irish
3. Combine in different ways:   Irish American immigration / American Irish immigrants

Different combinations...different results

Click on the each search icon to see the results

Irish Americans 

Irish Americans immigration 

Irish Americans immigration indentured servitude 

Irish indentured servitude 

searching with subject headings

What are Subject Headings?
Specific, descriptive terms assigned to a source in a library catalog or database.
Subject Headings in the Library Catalog:
Subject Headings in One Search (or Search Everything):
Why use Subject Headings?
Found a great source?  Here's how to find want to find more just like it!