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Query Examples
Last Name Search:
Enter only the last name in this box.  You can search one name at a time, or search multiple surnames using the connectors AND, OR, AND NOT.  If you are not sure about the spelling, try more than one spelling, or truncate the name, e.g. Smith, Smythe, Sm  
Examples of basic searches using the "Description keyword" box:
Smith
Typing the word Smith in the search box finds all records containing that letter sequence; in addition to finding every individual named Smith, it would find Smithsonian and Smithers
Francis AND Smith
This narrows the search.  It will only locate records containing both terms.
Football OR Baseball
This search will return all records containing baseball or football
Civil War
Finds records containing the exact phrase Civil War.
Superintendent AND NOT Smith
Finds records containing the word Superintendent but excludes those that contain Smith
Using other search fields alone or in combination with keyword search:
Searching for photographs by date
Typing the term 1867 in the "Date of photo" search box finds all photographs with that exact date sequence.  186 finds all photographs from the 1860's.  18 finds all 19th century photographs.
Searching for a VMI Class
Typing the term 1942 in the "VMI Class" search box locates all images in our database pertaining to the Class of 1942.  194 finds all classes from the 1940's
Locating a Photographer
Typing the term Miley in the "Photographer" search box will locate photos by Lexington photographer Michael Miley.
Combination with description keyword
Typing the term Clark in the "Description keyword" search box and the term 1867 in the "VMI Class" search box locates all individuals named Clark who were members of the Class of 1867.  This same concept can be applied to combine the keyword field with any or all of the other remaining fields.