Daily Life Online

This database features scholarly material from full-length encyclopedia articles to chapter-long discussions.

Users can access the database by Quick Search, Advanced Search, and Browsing. The database is organized by Time Period, Region, and Subject.

Quick Search

The quick search option available on nearly every page in Daily Life Online allows users to type in a few keywords and view the results. Boolean operators are not necessary, but, if included, AND, OR, and NOT operators will be allowed to function as they normally would. If these operators are not detected, the keywords entered will be joined with ANDs.

Since this option is potentially a simple and broad search, it is recommended that users with specific searches or specific results in mind use the advanced search page, where results can be more powerfully controlled.

Advanced Search: Keyword Search

The keyword search option works much like the advanced search screen of major search engines, with some minor differences. For the keyword search only, all Boolean operators except wildcards will be removed in order to build the most reliable query. Instead of Boolean operators, use each text box as specified:

All of these words...: accepts a space-separated list of keywords. All words must be found in an entry for it to be returned.

and this exact phrase...: accepts a single phrase. The phrase must be found in an entry exactly as you type it for it to be returned. This is joined to the "All of these words..." box, if it contains text, with a Boolean AND.

and any of these words...: accepts a space-separated list of keywords. If any of the words are found in an entry, it will be returned. This is joined to the "All of these words..." and the "and this exact phrase..." boxes, if they contain text, with a Boolean AND.

and none of these words: accepts a space-separated list of keywords. If any of the words are found in an entry, it will NOT be returned. This is joined to the "All of these words...," the "and this exact phrase...," and "and any of these words..." boxes, if they contain text, with a Boolean AND.

Advanced Search: Boolean Search

The Boolean search option offers much more powerful search capabilities than the keyword search, including the operators defined below. Those who choose to use this option must write their query using the specified Boolean terms. For convenience, a drop-down menu has been provided that will automatically insert them.

Advanced Search: Search by Subject, Region, and Time Period

Also available on the advanced search page are three sets of checkboxes that allow users to limit their searches by subject, region of the world, and time period. These can be used in conjunction with a keyword or Boolean text search or on their own. How these options are connected to the rest of the query can also be controlled. Users can connect them with AND, OR, or NOT operators.

BROWSING: Users can easily browse more than 10,000 book pages and 4,000,000 words by:

• Time Period
• Region
• Subject/Topic

Included in the primary source materials are famous speeches and documents throughout history.