Search the Collection

The Corporate Assets Information System of the Canadian Museum of History and the Canadian War Museum allows for both Basic Search and Advanced Search of its collections database.

Enter a term or terms, or alpha-numeric or numeric codes into the Keywords text box. Here are some tips you may find useful when entering terms:

• Type terms out in full. No acronyms have been entered into the database.
• Search for First World War and Second World War, not World War I and World War II, and South African War, not Boer War.
• Punctuation, case and word order of keywords are ignored.
• Entry can be made in either French or English.

You can narrow your search in three ways:

1. Appearing in -
Use the drop-down menu to limit your search to a particular category. Your search results should appear more quickly. The default is "Anywhere" meaning that all categories of data are searched.

You can choose from seven categories:

1. Anywhere - All fields of data are searched.



2. Object Name - Object Name, Title, Pattern Name and Brand Name / Model fields are searched.



3. People - Person / Institution and Artist / Maker / Manufacturer fields are searched.



4. Places - Place of Use, Place of Origin and Affiliations fields are searched.



5. Events - Events field is searched.



6. Military Service - Service Component, Branch, Unit and Rank fields are searched.



7. Object Number - Artifact Number field is searched.

2. Find records which include -
Use the drop-down menu to select the type of search you wish to conduct. The default is "All of the words entered" meaning that only records which have all the terms entered will be displayed.

In this section, you have three options:

1. All of the words entered - The system searches the database for only those records that contain all the terms being searched. For example, when "Canadian Army Medical Corps" is entered into the Keywords box, the system will return only those records which contain all the words "Canadian", "Army", "Medical" and "Corps".



2. Any of the words entered - The system searches the database for any occurrence of the terms being searched. For example, when "Canadian Army Medical Corps" is entered into the Keywords box, the system will return records which contain any of the words "Canadian", "Army", "Medical" or "Corps".



3. Exact phrase entered - The system searches the database for only those records that contain the exact phrase or group of words being searched. For example, when "Canadian Army Medical Corps" is entered into the Keywords box, the system will return only those records which contain the phrase "Canadian Army Medical Corps".

3. Museum -
Use the drop-down menu to select the Museum collection to be searched (Canadian War Museum or Canadian Museum of History). The default is for both Museums, meaning that both institutions' records will be searched unless you choose one of the other options.

Advanced Search -
This feature will allow you to search for more than one object or place or person at a time. Use the filters provided (and, or, or not) to include or exclude any additional data.

Example 1:
Haida mask Appearing in: Anywhere
Or Haida canoe Appearing in: Anywhere
Or Haida carving Appearing in: Anywhere
Result: All available records of Haida masks, canoes or carvings.

Example 2:
Maurice Richard Appearing in: People
Or Pierre Trudeau Appearing in: People
Result: All available records of artifacts connected to either Maurice Richard or the Rt. Hon. Pierre Trudeau.

Example 3:
First World War Appearing in: Events
And John McCrae Appearing in: People
Result: Only the available records of artifacts from the First World War which are connected to John McCrae, author of In Flanders Fields.

Example 4:
Quebec Appearing in: Places
And painting Appearing in: Anywhere
Not Georges Bédard Appearing in: People
Result: All available records for Quebec paintings except for the works of artist Georges Bédard.

Search Results

Though keywords can be entered in either French or English, results are displayed in accordance with the screen language format identified by the user.

Search results will display in four ways:

1. No records matched your request.
If your search terms return no results, a message will indicate this. Try to redefine your search.

2. List display -
If your search terms do return results, the Search Results List display is presented. A List display includes a thumbnail image, as well as the fields Object Name, Artifact Number and Events.

From this page, you can choose to display a set of larger images using the Images View link on the page or you can access a Detail record by selecting either the artifact image or the artifact name (Object Name).

A maximum of 20 artifacts will be listed per page. If your search yields more than 20 results, you can view the remainder by selecting the "next page" link.

If no image exists for a particular artifact, or if the image cannot be shown for reasons of copyright or cultural sensitivity, a generic image which says "No Image Available" appears.

3. Images display -
The Images display includes the fields Object Name and Artifact Number. It also provides slightly larger images of the artifacts returned in the List display, if images are available. From this page, a Detail record can be accessed by selecting the Object Name. A large image can be accessed by selecting the thumbnail.

A maximum of 20 artifacts will be listed per page. If your search yields more than 20 results, you can view the remainder by selecting the "next page" link.

If no image exists for a particular artifact, or if the image cannot be shown for reasons of copyright or cultural sensitivity, a generic image with an X through it appears. It says "No Image Available".

To return to the List display, select the List View link.

4. Detail display -
The Detail display can include one larger image close to the top with alternate views of the same object at the bottom.

All images in the Detail view link to a larger version of the same image. If no image exists for a particular artifact, or if the image cannot be shown for reasons of copyright or cultural sensitivity, a generic image with an X through it appears. It says "No Image Available".

The Detail display may include data from any of the following fields:

1. Object Name - Contains the common name of the item described by the record. E.g. chair; painting; bowl; rifle



2. Artifact Number - Indicates the generic number of the item cited in the Object Name field. E.g. 2000.111; 19730226-008; VI-B-127



3. Museum - The acronyms CWM (for Canadian War Museum) and CMH (for Canadian Museum of History) indicate the institution in which the object is held.



4. Collection - The special collection of which the item cited in the Object Name field is part. E.g. Maurice "Rocket" Richard; Beaverbrook Collection of War Art Canadian War Museum



5. Person / Institution - Contains the name(s) of people and organizations, their role(s) and in some cases relevant dates that are associated with the item cited in the Object Name field. E.g. Associated historical figure, Diefenbaker, Right Honourable John George Bannerman



6. Place of Use - Indicates the name of the country where the item cited in the Object Name field was used, or the equivalent of a country, including some islands or states within a political union. It also indicates the name of the province or territory (for objects of Canadian origin), and the municipality, regional municipality, town, city, reserve, village or community where the item cited in the Object Name field was used. If this information is not known, "no entry" appears. E.g. Country - Canada, Province - no entry, Municipality - no entry



7. Place of Origin - Indicates the name of the country where the item cited in the Object Name field was made, or the equivalent of a country, including some islands or states within a political union. It also indicates the name of the province or territory (for objects of Canadian origin), and the municipality, regional municipality, town, city, reserve, village, community and others where the item cited in the Object Name field originated. If this information is not known, "no entry" appears. E.g. Country - United States of America, Municipality - St. Louis; Country - Canada, Province - Ontario, Municipality - Toronto; Country - no entry, Municipality - no entry



8. Artist / Maker / Manufacturer - Indicates the name of the artist, maker, or designer responsible for the design and/or execution, or the name of the manufacturer of the item cited in the Object Name field. E.g. Edenshaw, Charles; Plume & Atwood Manufacturing Co.; Lismer, Mr. Arthur



9. Date of Manufacture - Contains the actual date of manufacture. E.g. 1940/ /; 1918/ /; 1945/09/22



10. Inscription - Contains any text affixed, impressed, printed or written on the item as well as data relevant to the marks (including trademarks, hall marks and maker's marks), and labels, for the object cited in the Object Name field. E.g. "Presented to the Right Hon. Sir John Alexander Macdonald, G.C.B., P.C., Premier of Canada and Member for the City of Kingston on the occasion of the laying of the first stone of the Kingston Dry Dock, June 19th A.D. 1890 by N.K. and M. Connolly, Contractors"; THIS WEAPON, THE FIRST OFF CANADIAN PRODUCTION LINE, WAS PRESENTED TO CLARENCE DECATUR HOWE



11. Title - Contains the original title of the item cited in the Object Name field as assigned by the Artist, Maker, Designer or Manufacturer. It also includes book titles. E.g. Getting Ready for the Hunt; D-Day - The Assault



12. Begin Date - Indicates the earliest date of manufacture or use for the item cited in the Object Name field. E.g. 1918; 1944; 1962



13. End Date - Indicates the completion date of manufacture or use for the item cited in the Object Name field. E.g. 1944; 1959; 1972



14. Measurements - Contains the overall numeric measurements of the item cited in the Object Name field, or the greatest measurements of its assembled component parts. E.g. Height 20.8 cm, Width 27.8 cm; Height 8.0 cm, Width 6.0 cm, Outside Diameter 2.4 cm



15. Events - Indicates the specific event associated with the item cited in the Object Name field. E.g. 1939-1945 Second World War; Patriation of the Constitution 1980-1982; Centennial of Canadian Confederation 1867-1967



16. Service Component - Indicates the major component of the armed forces service with which the item cited in the Object Name field was connected. E.g. Canadian Expeditionary Force; Canadian Army; Canadian Forces



17. Branch - Indicates the functional corps or branch of the service with which the item cited in the Object Name field was associated either by use or through ownership. E.g. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada; Canadian Rangers; Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps



18. Unit - Indicates the unit with which the item cited in the Object Name field was associated. A unit is the lowest level in a military organization which is self-accounting and which is commanded by a commanding officer, such as: battalions, regiments, ships, or squadrons and minor units such as independent companies, squadrons, batteries, air movement units, etc. E.g. NO 8 CANADIAN GENERAL HOSPITAL; NO 12 CANADIAN GENERAL HOSPITAL; 19TH CANADIAN INFANtrY BATTALION



19. Rank - Indicates the general or specific rank, if available, associated with the item cited in the Object Name field. This field may also be used to indicate a general rank as indicated by uniform design or other criteria. E.g. Lieutenant-Colonel; Squadron Leader; Major



20. Brand Name / Model - Contains the brand name and/or model name and/or number as assigned by the manufacturer and shown on the item cited in the Object Name field. E.g. Minuteman; Model Number: 355 136; Model Number: 597



21. Pattern Name - Contains the manufacturer's pattern name or number, or the common name for the design of the item cited in the Object Name field. It should be used to record a recognised pattern name. E.g. 1941 PATTERN; Log Cabin; Queen's Ware



22. Category - Contains the primary level of classification for the item in the Object Name field. This classification structure is based on the Canadian Parks Service Classification System for Historical Collections. E.g. 03: personal artifacts; 05: tools and equipment for science and technology



23. Sub-category - Contains the secondary level of classification for the object. This classification structure is based on the Canadian Parks Service Classification System for Historical Collections. E.g. E060: armament, firearm; F180: written communication tools and equipment



24. Support - Indicates the name of the support material used for the work of art in the Object Name field. E.g. canvas; masonite; paper



25. Medium - Indicates the names of the materials used to create the work of art in the Object Name field. E.g. oil; watercolour; charcoal



26. Related Activity - Indicates the trade, occupation or activity associated with the item cited in the Object Name field. E.g. carpentry; fishing; hockey



27. Other Dating Methods - This field relates exclusively to archaeological material and indicates other methods used to date the artifact. E.g. 1380 +/- 105 (radio-carbon date); 7810 +/- 80 (radio-carbon date)



28. Affiliations - This field identifies both the historic and/or current cultural affiliation(s) associated with the item, such as band or First Nation name, based upon the object's social/geographical origin. E.g. Haida; Innu; Nuu-chah-nulth. It also identifies other affiliations such as a nationality, culture or religion associated with the item. E.g. Quaker; Acadian; Masonic



29. Image Information - The numbers seen below or beside the images are internal references which are shown for the convenience of our visitors who may use any one or all of these numbers in ordering reproductions of images. E.g. S94-2374 refers to a 35 mm slide or larger format transparency and both 3282-9392-9344-092 and CD94-208 refer to specific digital images.

To view other results from the same search, use your web browser's "Back" button to return to the previous page (either the List display or the Images display).

To begin a new search, select either the Search or the Advanced Search links.