You can search for descriptions of images and, in many cases, digitized images in the Prints & Photographs Online Catalog. Images that have no known restrictions display larger images no matter where you searching from. Images where restrictions may be in effect (generally, images produced outside the U.S.) display only as thumbnail images to those searching from outside Library of Congress buildings.

Below are some suggested search terms and strategies for searching the online catalog for World War I related materials.

• Search using the standard heading for the war: World War, 1914-1918. You can search this term as a phrase by using quote marks or selecting phrase search. A list of subdivisions that are used with names of wars is available at: https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/tgm1/app-c.html.


• Search using the abbreviation WWI because sometimes it occurs in the text of the descriptions.


• The term for the war at the time and for years afterward was the Great War. You can search this term as a phrase by using quote marks or selecting phrase search.


• Other terms sometimes used in captions to refer to the conflict include: European War, as well as terms in other languages, such as Grande Guerre and Weltkrieg.


• Search for types of warfare characteristic of World War I, e.g. Trench warfare.


• Look for place names associated with key events, e.g., Argonne, Brest, Flander's Field. (Combining a place name with a date for the decade or years in which the war occurred can narrow results, although somewhat imprecisely: e.g., Belgium 1910.)


• Search the names of key figures in the war; e.g., William Mitchell, Edith Cavell. As first names and titles are not consistently included in caption texts, if the surname is relatively distinctive, it may be sufficient, e.g., Pershing. (Combining a place name with a date for the decade or years in which the war occurred can narrow results, although somewhat imprecisely: e.g., Pershing 1910.)


• Try terms for types of participants, e.g., American Expeditionary Forces, soldiers, nurses, Red Cross, refugees. (Combining a term with a date for the decade or years in which the war occurred can narrow results, although somewhat imprecisely: e.g., United States. Army 1910.)


• Search terms for weapons and transportation used in the war combined with the decade or years in which the war occurred, e.g., biplanes, kites (military). (Combining a term with a date for the decade or years in which the war occurred can narrow results, although somewhat imprecisely: e.g., artillery 1910.)

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