Researching your House History

Every house has history. Researching the history of your house can be fascinating, but also very difficult and time consuming. There are many resources that can provide information about your house, ranging from city directories to architectural styles. To construct a complete house history, however, a variety of sources must be consulted. The following list of sources will help you get started on your research.

Maps and Aerial Photographs | Histories | Books | Videos | Local Resources

Maps and aerial Photographs

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
The Sanborn Map company drew insurance maps for many cities around the country, including Flint. The maps include lot outlines and the original shape of any structures on the property, color-coded to indicate building material. In some maps, changes are pasted over the original. The Flint Public Library has Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for the city of Flint only, for the years 1929-1941. Not all areas of the city are covered by the Sanborn maps. The maps can be used to trace a house's history or the development of a neighborhood or subdivision.

Bird's Eye Views
A phenomena of the nineteenth century, many communities were represented in "bird's eye views." The companies which contracted to make these views prided themselves in representing the town with great accuracy. If your home was built prior to the publication of a bird's-eye view, the print can make a useful, if quite small, image of your home. The Flint Public Library has bird's eye views from 1867, 1880 and 1890, all taken from different angles.

Plat Maps
Plat maps were originally used to document property ownership, and are now a valuable resource in researching house history. A typical plat book is published by county with a map printed for each township. The township is then further subdivided to indicate property ownership. The Flint Public Library has plat maps on microfilm for the majority of Michigan counties.

Street Maps
Street maps will help you locate certain streets and determine if the street name or location has changed over time. The Flint Public Library has street maps of Flint and the surrounding area for a variety of years.

Aerial Photographs
Aerial photographs show a photograph of the actual dwelling from a bird's eye view. The Flint Public Library has aerial photographs of the city of Flint from 1971.

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Histories

County Histories
County Histories solicited paid subscriptions from the affluent citizens of the area. The amount of information included about each individual depended on the fee paid. Biographical statements, portraits and possibly an image of the residence could be included. Usually only the most prominent houses were included in the county histories. In some instances, the county histories were combined with the plat maps. The Flint Public Library has county histories for Genesee County, as well as many other Michigan counties.

City Directories
City Directories, published by R. L. Polk and company, list residents who live in dwellings within a community. The listings are arranged by name or address, and sometimes list the occupation of the resident(s). City directories can be used to determine who lived at a certain address in a certain year. The Flint Public Library has city directories for Flint and surrounding communities from the 1890's to present day.

Historic Homes Binder
Compiled by Flint Public Library Staff, the Historic Homes Binder contains information about elected historic homes in Genesee County. It contains the following information for each home, if available: name, location, previous use of site, owner(s), tenants, when built, architect, when moved, when razed, pictures/photos, uses of building, description of building, additions/remodeling, disasters and legends. Very few homes are included in the historic homes binder.

Local History Files
The Local History Files at the Flint Public Library contain newspaper clippings and other looseleaf material on a variety of topics concerning local history in the Genesee County area. The files are arranged alphabetically by topic and are divided into two sections- Flint and Genesee County. The files can be used to find information on individuals, selected historic homes, or certain neighborhoods/areas of the city or county.

Biography Card File
The Biography Card File in an index of biographical information for individuals in the Genesee County area. Sources indexed are the Flint Journal, various County Histories and local history clippings. Use the biography file to locate information on the people who lived in your house.

Census Microfilm
Beginning in 1880, the United States Census began including the addresses of the individuals recorded. Numerous other details were also recorded, including occupation, age, ancestry, etc. Use the census to discover who lived in your house, as well as the surrounding neighborhood. For a list of all census questions, please see http://www.ipums.umn.edu/~pipums/voliii/tQuestions.html.

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Books
There are many books in the Flint Public Library's collection that can help you in researching your house's history. Selected resources are listed below:

Buildings of Michigan
by Kathryn Eckert Bishop [720.9774 Ec]

Civic Park Home Preservation Manual
by Tomblinson, Harburn, Yurk and Associates, Inc. [GENESEE COUNTY HISTORY 720.973 To]

A Field Guide to American Houses
by Virginia Savage Talkington McAlester and A. Lee McAlester [720.973 McA]

House Histories: A Guide to Tracing the Genealogy of Your Home
by Sally Light [929.1 Li]

How Old is This House?
by Hugh Howard [729 Ho]

How Old is Your House?: A Guide to Research
by Joan Webber [728.6 We]

Identifying American Architecture: A Pictorial Guide to Styles and Terms
by John J. G. Blumenson [REFERENCE 720.973 Bl]

If These Walls Could Talk...: An Easy Guide to Tracking Your House's Genealogy
by Mauricia DeLean Houck [GENEALOGY 929.1]

If These Walls Had Ears: The Biography of a House
by James Morgan [976.7 Mo]

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Videos

Family Historian: Tracing Historic Houses
[VIDEOTAPES 720.973 Tr]

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Local Resources

Genesee County Register of Deeds Office
The Register of Deeds is the county official responsible for recording property ownership. The deed to a property can reveal who owned your house and when. To search for a deed, you will need the name of the grantor or grantee. To locate this information, contact your local assessor or treasurer's office. Some records can also be located using the property tax identification number or the street address. You can search the holdings of the Register of Deeds Office via their website, located at www.co.genesee.mi.us/registerdeeds, or you can visit the office in person. There is a charge of $1.00 per copy.
Genesee County Register of Deeds Office
Room 138 Administration Bldg
1101 Beach Street
Flint, MI 48502
(810) 257-3060
Monday - Friday 8am-5pm

Property Tax Records
Property Tax Records may help you determine who lived in your house, and may also provide a description of the property. The records are located in a number of different places. The Genesee County Treasurer's Office has microfilm copies of property tax records. The original records may be located in one of two places- The Perry Archives in the Sloan Museum or in your local Treasurer's Office.
Genesee County Treasurer's Office
1101 Beach Street
Flint, MI 48502
(810) 257-3059
Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm

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