Search the University of Alberta Museums Collections

Search the University of Alberta Museums collections through one accessible website. Using keyword or advanced searches, you will be able to filter your results based on museum collections, materials, and more. The new URL is - search.museums.ualberta.ca - start discovering the University of Alberta Museums today!

Search the University of Alberta Museums
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Help Videos

View our series of videos to help you learn more about key functions and features on the UAM Search Site.

View Here

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Search Tips

Tips to get you started with a keyword search on the University of Alberta Museums Search Site.

View Here

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Feedback Form

Provide feedback about the University of Alberta Museums Search Site.

Feedback Form

Museum collections available to search:

  • Anne Lambert Clothing and Textiles Collection
  • Bohdan Medwidsky Ukrainian Folklore Archives
  • Bryan/Gruhn Archaeology Collection
  • Canadian Centre for Ethnomusicology
  • Dentistry Museum Collection
  • E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
  • Fossil Hominid Cast Collection
  • Freshwater Invertebrate Collection
  • Laboratory for Vertebrate Paleontology
  • Mactaggart Art Collection
  • Meteorite Collection
  • Museum of Zoology - Amphibians and Reptile Collection
  • Museum of Zoology - Ichthyology Collection
  • Museum of Zoology - Mammalogy Collection
  • Museum of Zoology - Ornithology Collection
  • Paleobotanical Collection
  • Soil Science Collection
  • UAlberta Museums Art Collection
  • Vascular Plant Herbarium
  • W.G. Hardy Collection of Ancient Near Eastern and Classical Antiquities
  • Zooarchaeology Reference Collection

Frequently Asked Questions

There is a new search site! Why the change?

We're so glad you noticed! The University of Alberta Museums (UAM) unit staff have been working hard over the few years to create a brand new single-point-of-access search site that will encourage easy access, exploration, and discovery of University of Alberta Museums collections in an online environment. There are a number of benefits to us creating a new single-point-of-access search site:

  • Eliminating technology risks - replacing the outdated websites have helped us to eliminate the risk of these sites failing unexpectedly due to unsupported software.
  • Increasing functionality - creating functional and accurate search systems has reduced the demands placed on University of Alberta Museums staff time and finances to troubleshoot multiple sites. A single-point-of-access search site has increased efficiency and eliminated redundant maintenance activities.
  • Increasing accessibility - better SEO (search engine optimization) and web accessibility standards have improved visibility of the site on the web and create a better usability experience for all types of users.
  • Improving usability - designing this search site to be an innovative online tool and single-point-of-access for all museum collections has made it easier for audiences to explore the breadth and diversity of University of Alberta Museum collections.
  • Strengthening trust - engaging audiences has built trust in the University of Alberta Museums’ institutional brand reputation amongst existing and new users of the University of Alberta Museums collection search site.
Why a single-point-of-access approach to this search site?

A single-point-of-access site was chosen to increase awareness of the diversity of museum collections on campus and facilitate cross-collection discoveries. Uniting the majority of registered museum collections on-campus online for the first time helps to achieve the University of Alberta Museums' strategic objectives, and also contribute to U of A’s overarching academic mission.

Having all of the museum collections in one online search site is a more efficient use of staff time and resources as site maintenance tasks and features can benefit all participating collections.

Will all of the museum collections be available on the UAM Search Site?
Our goal is to provide web access to all registered museum collections. Registered museum collections need to have their collection data in the Mimsy collections management system before they can be included on the search site. As of August 2021, 77% of museum collections with data in Mimsy are on the search site.
What features are included on the UAM Search Site?
Our primary purpose is to have a search site that can produce accurate search results. Therefore, we have keyword and advanced search options available to all users. We also have a browse feature that is accessible to those who want to see more of what the University of Alberta Museums have to offer. If there is something you would like to see on the UAM Search Site, we are always open to suggestions - simply fill out our feedback survey.
Will the number of museum collection records available online increase?

The UAM Search Site has over 675,000 object and specimen records!

Creating new object and specimen records in the registered museum collections is the responsibility of individual registered museum collections. The intention of a single-point-of-access search site is to increase the visibility of all the museum collections on campus, and it should not stop registered museum collections from increasing their own records.

As long as the museum collection data is housed in Mimsy, we will work towards its inclusion on the Search Site.

How can I request changes, edits, additions to the UAM Search Site?
We are pleased to offer this feedback form, and we encourage visitors to use it to provide us with helpful information regarding the usability, formatting, and information found on the UAM Search Site. Additionally, you can email or call Jill Horbay (horbay@ualberta.ca or 780.492.3802) and we will log suggestions for consideration.
What has happened to the individual museum collection search sites?
As of September 30, 2020, individual museum collection search sites were retired. They served their purpose well for the last 10+ years and need to be retired along with the servers they are on. The University of Alberta Museums single-point-of-access search site contains all of the same data that could have been found on the existing individual sites - so it's up to the task of helping you with your search!

Collection Datasets


Project Contact

Jill Horbay
Communications and Marketing Manager
780.492.3802
horbay@ualberta.ca