Searching the ‘Any Text’ field searches all text fields within the catalogue. This is fast but may return unwanted records. You can use an asterisk or star (*) as a wildcard to broaden a search, for instance:

danc* will return search results for all words beginning with danc, for instance dance, dancer and dancers.

Searching the ‘RefNo’ field displays all records with 'reference numbers' matching the search string. For instance searching ‘DWE’ returns all records in the Dorothy Whitney Elmhirst collection. This is useful if you know part or all of the alphanumeric reference number assigned to a collection or its component. Search by Title if you know all or part of the title.

Search by Date if you know the approximate date of an event. A wide range of date formats are supported including single years (1939); date ranges (1931-1935); decades (1930s); and centuries (20^th century), but be aware that all dates within the date field entered will be returned, for instance, 20th century will return every date between 1900 and 1999. You can combine searches in different fields to refine your search results.

Photograph searching

Searching the 'Any Text' field and selecting the 'Photograph' drop down menu from the 'Format' field will return photographic records. For instance, searching 'dancers' and 'Photograph' will return all photographs of and about dancers. Clicking on the 'Details' tab will return the descriptive record together with an enlarged image of the photograph. Please be aware that our cataloguing project is on-going and that photographs will continue to be added as it progresses.

You can find names (individual and corporate) with an 'Any Text' field search. To check on the spelling of a name, or return the activity of that person or organisation (particularly as it relates to The Dartington Hall Trust), use the 'Person and Organisations Search' and enter the name in the 'AuthorizedFormsOfName' box.

Typing an asterisk (*) wildcard alone into the PersonName lookup field brings up a list of all names currently used or expected to be used in the database. This list is growing as indexing and descriptive cataloguing continues.

Searching subjects

Subject term searching depends on the use of a controlled vocabulary (the Trust Archive Thesaurus) derived from both local subject headings and the UNESCO Thesaurus. The Trust Archive Thesaurus contains subject terms that are currently used or expected to be used in the database. You can search by subject in two ways.

1. Enter a subject term (forestry, agriculture, art, etc.) in the search box.

2. Browse the Trust Archive Subject Thesaurus prior to searching.  You can do this by clicking on the Subject link (highlighted in blue). A pop-up box will then appear into which you can type a broad term that will pull up a hierarchical listing of subject terms related to that term. Click on 'Term' 'NT' or 'RT' and then 'Search' and all records with that subject attached will be returned. Searching with the asterisk (*) wildcard in the pop-up box will return a list of every subject in the Thesaurus.

Note: Construction of the Trust Archive Thesaurus is an ongoing project. Not all subjects are currently linked to records in the Catalogue. We are constantly adding new subject terms and refining existing terms. Date, name, subject, and category (prints, photographs, manuscripts, etc.) searching will increase in usefulness as the project continues.

Complex searching: AND, OR and PHRASE

The logical options at the bottom of the search screen can be used for complex searching. For instance, combine different fields set to AND: Any text = Dance AND Date = 1930s  yields dance related manuscripts between 1930 and 1939.

Or combine two fields set to OR. For instance;

Any text = Dance OR Date = 1930s yields all dance manuscripts and all 1930s manuscripts.You can also search by combining words within a field using either AND or OR

The PHRASE search option can be used within the same field and will return catalogue records containing exact words in a phrase as specified in the search field.

Interpreting results

Results are displayed in hit lists of 10 items to a page and are sorted by reference number. Use the Next and Prev buttons to move through a hit list.

Please be aware that some records must be kept closed due to the strict requirements of the Data Protection Act of 1998 and/or the archival closure period of 30 year agreed by the Dartington Hall Trustees. We also restrict access to information about living people. Please contact us (high.cross.house@dartingtonhall.org.uk) if you have questions or would like individual assistance.