Resources for House Historians
HISTORY OF YOUR AMERICAN HOUSE - GENERAL HELP
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Most States and many towns or county's have produced free guides to help you trace the history of your house. We have listed them so click here to go to American Local Guides
A great site to start with is My house history House Histories: A Guide to Tracing the Genealogy of Your Home by Sally Light The Genealogy of your House - who lived there provides some excellent advice. Discovering the History of Your House and Your Neighborhood by Betsy J Green Beginner’s Guide to Tracing Your House’s History. A great blog with lots of interesting hints and tips about Jen's personal journey into house history A must read if you are to start tracing the history of your house in the U.S House style guide to the American House. A useful and excellent guide to the various house types to be found in North America |
Model tenement New York 68th & 69th
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Kansas State Historical Society House History Checklist
A checklist of places and things to look for when researching the history of a house and so does The Secrets To A Great House History by MARFY GOODSPEED Denver Public Library Building Histories Tutorial A detailed tutorial on how to research building and house histories, specifically for Denver, but useful information for all. Smithsonian Institute site - Within these walls is a fascinating story of a house that stood for 200 years, at 16 Elm Street in the centre of Ipswich, Massachusetts. The house was built in the 1760s and several families moved in and out in the first half of the 20th century. Retracing the Trails of Your Ancestors Using Deed Records by William Dollarhid |
Quick Links on this page
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GENERAL AMERICAN HOUSE HISTORY WEBSITES
FIND My PAST AND ANCESTRY.com are paid for sites with an abundance of databases for searching former owners of your home.
Genealogy.com a wide range of local family histories.
The USGenWeb Project is a group of volunteers working together to provide free genealogy websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States.
Genealogy.com a wide range of local family histories.
The USGenWeb Project is a group of volunteers working together to provide free genealogy websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States.
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PRESERVING OLD AMERICAN HOUSES
National Trust for Historic Preservation
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
The Victorian Society in America -National non-profit organization committed to historic preservation, protection, understanding, education, and enjoyment of our nineteenth century heritage.
Preserve and Protect - not-for-profit corporation providing space on the World Wide Web for Historic Preservation and Environmental Protection Organizations
Heritage Preservation - For over a quarter century, Heritage Preservation has been working to ensure the preservation of America's collections for present and future generations.
National Alliance of Preservation Commissions - The NAPC is the only organization devoted solely to representing the nation's preservation design review commissions.
Search world records at findmypast.co
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
The Victorian Society in America -National non-profit organization committed to historic preservation, protection, understanding, education, and enjoyment of our nineteenth century heritage.
Preserve and Protect - not-for-profit corporation providing space on the World Wide Web for Historic Preservation and Environmental Protection Organizations
Heritage Preservation - For over a quarter century, Heritage Preservation has been working to ensure the preservation of America's collections for present and future generations.
National Alliance of Preservation Commissions - The NAPC is the only organization devoted solely to representing the nation's preservation design review commissions.
Search world records at findmypast.co
MAPS FOR THE AMERICAN HOUSE HISTORIAN
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Article about how Wisconsin Historical Society’s Uses Sanborn Maps to research old buildings
Discovering Your Neighborhood How to Use National Archives Records to Find Out More about Where You Live Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection Library of Congress map collection The Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress holds more than 4.5 million items, of which Map Collections represents only a small fraction, those that have been converted to digital form can be found here. |
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CENSUS FOR THE AMERICAN HOUSE HISTORIAN
A general census database with historical maps, census records, and links to other sources of information. This database does not list every city in every state, but most major cities are listed and quite a few smaller cities are, as well. Maps date as far back as 1865.
AccessGenealogy has links to census
Census online also links to U.S census
Your Guide to Finding and Using U.S. Census Records is a helpful guide
An interesting look at how the census was compiled in the US: "Who Talked to the Census Taker?" by Claire Kluskens, from her site The Twelve Key. (covers 1790-1870) twelvekey.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/ngsmag…
A great site offering lots of good advice on the census is Our Public Records
Discover what life was like for your ancestors in US newspapers at findmypast.co
AccessGenealogy has links to census
Census online also links to U.S census
Your Guide to Finding and Using U.S. Census Records is a helpful guide
An interesting look at how the census was compiled in the US: "Who Talked to the Census Taker?" by Claire Kluskens, from her site The Twelve Key. (covers 1790-1870) twelvekey.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/ngsmag…
A great site offering lots of good advice on the census is Our Public Records
Discover what life was like for your ancestors in US newspapers at findmypast.co
HISTORIC AMERICAN HOUSES
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University of Maryland
House museums- House visits National Endowment for the Humanities At National Endowment for the Humanities you can exchange family stories, explore America's past, and make your story part of the nation's story. You can also create or locate a family tree, search American history files, and learn how to save family treasures such as photographs and diaries. Go back in time |
Victorian House in Brunswick, Maine |
HELP TO TRACE THE HISTORY OF YOUR AMERICAN HOUSE
Finding a library To find your local library
Another great site for finding your library is LibDex at
State and Local Government on the Net A directory of state, county and city government web sites
Planning your visit to the archives Genealogy Research at the Courthouse, Archives or Library- 10 Tips for Planning Your Visit
State archives on line U.S. State Archives Online
This Old House Magazine
Could your street have changed its name? Stephen P. Morse's web site to help with street name changes.
CITY AND STREET DIRECTORIES FOR AMERICAN HOUSE HISTORY
Repositories of city directories nationwide are listed with their location at local or regional libraries.
Old directories site
Have you ever wished you could find links to all the online city directories in one place? You can here
Courts Records: National Center for State Courts:
A directory of courts (county, circuit, etc.) in each state with links to their web sites, most of which have search capabilities to trace people and places.
Internet Archive
Internet Archive has a sizable number of free directories available. Just enter "city directory" with the quotes in the search box and depress the "Go" button. At the time of the publication of this post there are 3,168 results. You obviously would wish to refine the search by entering your city of interest, but it tells you that there are a lot of city directories available to you.
Don's List has a nice collection of directories and is free and browsable. There are also international directories available.
Ancestry.com has a large collection of directories that do have an index, so that a surname or complete name can be entered and one can find an ancestor in the results provided. The page where the person's name exists is made available and all one needs to do is scan through the image to find the subject person. Ancestry requires a subscription.
Hathitrust and Google Books have a large number of directories that are available for you to search and browse. In particular, Hathitrust has many from the 19th Century.
My Heritage has recently been adding a large amount to is online city directory collection. It is available via a subscription.
FindMyPast also has directories of many varieties available via subscription, and is a very good source of not only the U.S. and Canada, but also the UK, Ireland, and Australia and New Zealand.
Cyndi's List has a long list of smaller collections of directories online provided by local libraries and historical societies. Definitely worth looking at the free resources as well as those listed that are available via subscription sites.
Finally, Miriam Robbins has accumulated a number of links to city directories, which she has made available at Online Historical Directories.
Old directories site
Have you ever wished you could find links to all the online city directories in one place? You can here
Courts Records: National Center for State Courts:
A directory of courts (county, circuit, etc.) in each state with links to their web sites, most of which have search capabilities to trace people and places.
Internet Archive
Internet Archive has a sizable number of free directories available. Just enter "city directory" with the quotes in the search box and depress the "Go" button. At the time of the publication of this post there are 3,168 results. You obviously would wish to refine the search by entering your city of interest, but it tells you that there are a lot of city directories available to you.
Don's List has a nice collection of directories and is free and browsable. There are also international directories available.
Ancestry.com has a large collection of directories that do have an index, so that a surname or complete name can be entered and one can find an ancestor in the results provided. The page where the person's name exists is made available and all one needs to do is scan through the image to find the subject person. Ancestry requires a subscription.
Hathitrust and Google Books have a large number of directories that are available for you to search and browse. In particular, Hathitrust has many from the 19th Century.
My Heritage has recently been adding a large amount to is online city directory collection. It is available via a subscription.
FindMyPast also has directories of many varieties available via subscription, and is a very good source of not only the U.S. and Canada, but also the UK, Ireland, and Australia and New Zealand.
Cyndi's List has a long list of smaller collections of directories online provided by local libraries and historical societies. Definitely worth looking at the free resources as well as those listed that are available via subscription sites.
Finally, Miriam Robbins has accumulated a number of links to city directories, which she has made available at Online Historical Directories.
AMERICAN HOUSE HISTORIES
National Register of Historic Places
is the Nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation.
Historic New England – Historic New England is a 100 year old preservation organization preserving New England history, artifacts, homes, landscapes and stories.
Alameda history.org is a blog dedicated to collecting and sharing knowledge about the life of old houses and buildings in Portland, Oregon, with a special focus on Northeast Portland’s Alameda neighborhood. The basic notion of this blog is that insight about the past adds new meaning to the present
History Channel
At the History Channel, you can search any topic in history, visit virtual exhibitions, test your history IQ, and search for your ancestors.
is the Nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation.
Historic New England – Historic New England is a 100 year old preservation organization preserving New England history, artifacts, homes, landscapes and stories.
Alameda history.org is a blog dedicated to collecting and sharing knowledge about the life of old houses and buildings in Portland, Oregon, with a special focus on Northeast Portland’s Alameda neighborhood. The basic notion of this blog is that insight about the past adds new meaning to the present
History Channel
At the History Channel, you can search any topic in history, visit virtual exhibitions, test your history IQ, and search for your ancestors.
WILLS AND PROBATE FOR THE AMERICAN HOUSE HISTORIAN
PHOTOGRAPHY
· American Museum of Natural History · Digital Public Library of America · Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Online Catalog · National Archives - Digital Photograph Collections · Smithsonian Images |
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MAGAZINES
Although predominately genealogy magazines these provides articles and links to house history..House history and Family history share many resources so these are a must read.
Family Tree Magazine USA
Family Tree Magazine UK
BOOKS ABOUT AMERICAN HOUSE HISTORY
Discovering the History of Your House and Your Neighborhood
by Betsy J. Green Santa Monica Press (May 2002)
Amazon
Step-by-step guide on how research the history of your home are instructions on how to identify the names of past residents, how to locate them or their relatives and learn facts about their lives, as well as obtain old photos of your house.
Houses and Homes: Exploring Their History (American Association for State and Local History Book Series) by Barbara Howe AltaMira Press (1995)
Amazon
A good resource for documenting the history of a home, this book shows how to examine written records, oral testimonies, visual sources, and the house's surroundings. Library Call Numbers: Library of Congress: E180; Dewey: 307.3/36/0973
A Field guide to American Houses (Revised) The Definitive Guide to identifying and Understanding Americas Domestic Architecture
Amazon
The most comprehensive and widely acclaimed guide to domestic architecture: in print and acknowledged everywhere as the unmatched, essential guide to American houses.
House Histories A Guide to Tracing the Genealogy of Your Home
by Sally Ligh
Architecture and dating an old house A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia McAlester, Lee McAlester, Juan Rodriguez, and Lauren Jarrett (illustrator)
Knopf (1984) A thorough guide on the architecture of American homes mainly built in the 1600’s to the 1940’sLibrary Call Numbers: Library of Congress: NA7205 ; Dewey: 728/.0973
What Style Is It? A Guide to American Architecture, Revised Edition
by John C. Poppeliers, S. Allen Chambers Wiley (2006) A guide to determining the architecture style of a home with over 200 pictures and drawings, this is a good resource to use as a visual aid. Library Call Numbers: Library of Congress: NA705 ; Dewey: 720/.973
American House Styles: A Concise Guide by John Milnes Baker W. W. Norton & Company (2002)
this book offers historical details to explain architecture styles and how history has influenced our home’s architecture. Library Call Numbers: Library of Congress: NA7205 ; Dewey: 728/.37/0973
Old-House Dictionary: An Illustrated Guide to American Domestic Architecture (1600-1940) by Steven J. Phillips Wiley (1992)This resource is a good companion to the detailed style guides, with over 750 definitions, often illustrated with drawings. Library Call Numbers: Library of Congress: NA7205 ; Dewey: 728/.0973
A Concise History of American Architecture by Leland M. Roth HarperCollins Publishers (1980)
An historical guide to American architecture, this book focuses on regional influences that dictated house construction and will give you a better understanding of why homes were built differently in different regions. Library Call Numbers: Library of Congress: NA705 ; Dewey: 720/.973
Family Tree Magazine USA
Family Tree Magazine UK
BOOKS ABOUT AMERICAN HOUSE HISTORY
Discovering the History of Your House and Your Neighborhood
by Betsy J. Green Santa Monica Press (May 2002)
Amazon
Step-by-step guide on how research the history of your home are instructions on how to identify the names of past residents, how to locate them or their relatives and learn facts about their lives, as well as obtain old photos of your house.
Houses and Homes: Exploring Their History (American Association for State and Local History Book Series) by Barbara Howe AltaMira Press (1995)
Amazon
A good resource for documenting the history of a home, this book shows how to examine written records, oral testimonies, visual sources, and the house's surroundings. Library Call Numbers: Library of Congress: E180; Dewey: 307.3/36/0973
A Field guide to American Houses (Revised) The Definitive Guide to identifying and Understanding Americas Domestic Architecture
Amazon
The most comprehensive and widely acclaimed guide to domestic architecture: in print and acknowledged everywhere as the unmatched, essential guide to American houses.
House Histories A Guide to Tracing the Genealogy of Your Home
by Sally Ligh
Architecture and dating an old house A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia McAlester, Lee McAlester, Juan Rodriguez, and Lauren Jarrett (illustrator)
Knopf (1984) A thorough guide on the architecture of American homes mainly built in the 1600’s to the 1940’sLibrary Call Numbers: Library of Congress: NA7205 ; Dewey: 728/.0973
What Style Is It? A Guide to American Architecture, Revised Edition
by John C. Poppeliers, S. Allen Chambers Wiley (2006) A guide to determining the architecture style of a home with over 200 pictures and drawings, this is a good resource to use as a visual aid. Library Call Numbers: Library of Congress: NA705 ; Dewey: 720/.973
American House Styles: A Concise Guide by John Milnes Baker W. W. Norton & Company (2002)
this book offers historical details to explain architecture styles and how history has influenced our home’s architecture. Library Call Numbers: Library of Congress: NA7205 ; Dewey: 728/.37/0973
Old-House Dictionary: An Illustrated Guide to American Domestic Architecture (1600-1940) by Steven J. Phillips Wiley (1992)This resource is a good companion to the detailed style guides, with over 750 definitions, often illustrated with drawings. Library Call Numbers: Library of Congress: NA7205 ; Dewey: 728/.0973
A Concise History of American Architecture by Leland M. Roth HarperCollins Publishers (1980)
An historical guide to American architecture, this book focuses on regional influences that dictated house construction and will give you a better understanding of why homes were built differently in different regions. Library Call Numbers: Library of Congress: NA705 ; Dewey: 720/.973
American National and local Historical Societies Click here
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