Using the Portal
The Portal Home page offers you several gateways to discovering collections on Black experiences that are available to you around the Chicago area.
FINDING COLLECTIONS
At the top, the SEARCH BOX will accept any keywords, names, etc. and search for relevant finding aids using all the words, but not necessarily all together as a phrase. If you use double-quotes around your query words, the search will prioritize exact phrases, but will also include results where each term was also present in the document, even if separated by other words.
No need to worry about upper or lower case, punctuation, or special diacritic characters--the search won't be affected either way.
Just below the search box is the BROWSE navigation bar--you can browse here by a category, or facet, such as a topic or decade. From the Browse page, you can still access the SEARCH BOX at the top for a new search.
DISCOVERY and INSPIRATION
In the middle of the page are three FEATURE BOXES, with links to a full listing of each feature below them.
On the left, a topic from the BMRC Curated Topics List will appear, with a related image from our member archives. These offer a more in-depth look at important topics in Black history and culture. New topics will be featured regularly.
In the middle box is the current online EXHIBIT, with an image from the exhibit. These exhibits feature digital materials from one or more member archives, along with information on the exhibit theme.
In the right hand box is the "TRY A TERM" feature. As you re-visit or refresh the home page, something new will randomly pop up in this box. Use this for inspiration and discovery of places, names, topics, organizations, and time periods for perusal.