There a multiple ways to search and refine results on the Research Arsenal. Using the search box on the upper left you can enter a name or keyword to search. By default the box searches keywords, image name, image notes, transcription, call number, and author’s name [individuals tagged in a record]. By clicking the three dots to the right of the search box you can toggle each of these categories on or off as well as the additional “notes about author” which is not selected by default.

You can also search for records based on the following categories: dates, units, battles, locations, armies, region, portrait/field, mounted, ranks, weapons, location states, and call number. These filters can be used in combination with each other.

Dates: Select dates to search. To search an entire year select only the year you are interested from the dropdown menu and click “add.” To search a more specific range you may select a month or year from the dropdown menu as well. Multiple years can be searched by selecting additional years and clicking “add.”

Units: The units menu can filter units by Union/confederate, army corps, regiment, state, service branch and company. Not every field needs to be completed to search. Select as many or as few as you’d like and click “add.” To search for multiple units or unit types, select the relevant categories from the drop down menu and select add.

Battles: Select a battle or battles from the list by checking the box. You can type the first few letters of a battle in the blank to narrow down the list of battles to select from.

Locations: Select a location or locations from the list by checking the box. You can type the first few letters of a location in the blank to narrow down the list of locations to select from. Please note that in the letters and diaries gallery the location of a letter is determined by where the person wrote from and not the location the letter was sent to.

Armies: Use this filter to narrow results to Union or Confederate armies.

Regions: Select a region or region from the list by checking the box. You can type the first few letters of a location in the blank to narrow down the list of regions to select from.

Portrait/Field: Toggle between displaying portrait images taken from photography studios or photographs taken in the field.

Mounted: Select “Mounted” to display all images containing horses and horse tack

Ranks: Select a rank or ranks from the list by checking the box. Click on the blue + sign to view a more specialized list of ranks. For example, you can refine your selection from “field officers” to “majors” or “colonels.” Civilians may also be selected from the rank category.

Weapons: Select a weapon or weapons from the list by checking the box. Click on the blue + sign to view a more specialized list of weapons.

Location States: Select a state or states from the list by checking the boxes.

Source/call number: Select a collect source and call number to bring up all records from that specific source.

Reset Filters: Click the “Reset Filters” button to clear the currently selected filters from the page and start a new search.

You can sort your results numerically, alphabetically or by featured results first by selecting one from the dropdown menu at the top of the screen. You can also select between a small grid view, info grid view, and a list view. The list view allows you to see both the keywords and the notes of a record before clicking along with its location.

Images may be viewed in full screen by clicking on the gray square to the left of the image on the individual record page. To exit the full screen mode press the X button on the zoom bar.

Some documents are part of a related group of images and can be navigated through the “image sets” dropdown menu at the bottom of the screen of an individual record. Related sets include letters written to and from the same correspondents.

When in the single image view of the image in question, please click on “Report Error” towards the bottom of the page. Please then fill out the questions in the pop-up window and click “Submit”. This will send a notification to our archivists who will review the submission.

Simply click on the “Join Now” button at the top of this page and you will be able to choose what level of subscription you want. You can even choose to try out the database without committing to a subscription level by creating a free account (no credit card needed).

1. Login to your account
2. At the top right corner of the screen, click on your name
3. Select “My Account”
4. Click on the “User Settings” tab
5. Once in the User Settings, you can click the “Change Password” button

Go to the main login page and click the “Reset Password” button that is located below the username & password data fields. Then follow the prompts to reset your password.

The Research Arsenal tracks what search filters you use in order to ensure we continue to upload documents that are most commonly searched for. Additionally, we keep your email to notify you of new additions to the database.

When you subscribe to the research arsenal, the system saves your credit card information to process the monthly or annual payments. In order to cancel your subscription:

1. Login into your account
2. Click on your name at the top right of the page
3. Click on “My Account”
4. Click on the “User Settings” tab
5. Click on the “Subscription” tab inside the “User Settings” tab
6. Click on the cancel subscription button

Except when required by law, paid Subscription fees are non-refundable. Certain refund requests for Subscriptions may be considered by the Company on a case-by-case basis and granted at the sole discretion of the Company.

Any student or faculty member with an .edu email may subscribe to the student discount and receive significant discounts. You are eligible to renew your student subscription as long as you have access to your .edu email.

The Research Arsenal understands that subscribing to a database before you know what it has is a sure way to be skeptical about the database. For this reason, we offer the ability to create a free account (no credit card needed). The free version allows you to see what documents and images we have and play with the search features. This version limits the ability of the free user to access the high quality scans or full list of keywords that are tagged to each image or document. In the event that a free subscriber chooses to upgrade, they can simply click on “upgrade” at the top of their screen when they are logged into the database.

The Research Arsenal encourages the use of the images on our database to further the understanding of American History. However, we ask that you cite the original source it came from and it’s call number. (i.e.- LOC, LC-B817- 7321).

Every reasonable effort will be made on the part of the Research Arsenal to determine any copyright restrictions on all material. Infringing materials placed on the website will be immediately taken down if they are brought to the attention of the Research Arsenal.

If you believe your copyright has been infringed on please contact us support@researcharsenal.com and include the following information:

1. The signature or electronic signature of the copyright owner or an authorized agent;
2. Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed, or, if multiple works, a representative list of such works;
3. Link to the infringing work;
4. Contact information for the copyright owner or authorized agent;
5. A statement that the person sending the notice has a good faith belief that use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; and
6. A statement that the information in the notice is accurate, and under penalty of perjury, that the person sending the notice is authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner.