Uncovering the history of your house can be an incredibly rewarding journey, and one of the most exciting parts is finding old photographs that offer a glimpse into its past. These vintage images can reveal fascinating details, from the original color schemes to architectural changes and additions made over the years. If you’re curious about what your home looked like in decades past, here are some of the best places to search for those treasured old photos.
A collage of different resources for finding old photos, including books, historical societies, neighbors, and online archives, illustrating the variety of search methods available.
1. Explore Your Local Historical Society
Your local historical society is a treasure trove for anyone researching local history, and it’s often the first place you should check when searching for old photos of your home. These societies frequently receive donations of photo archives from residents who are downsizing, moving away, or managing family estates. As a result, they can amass substantial collections of images depicting homes and buildings throughout the town’s history. Many historical societies have meticulously organized archives, making it possible to search for photos by address or neighborhood. Volunteers and staff are often deeply knowledgeable about local history and can provide invaluable assistance in your search. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your town’s historical society – you might be surprised at what they uncover.
2. Delve into Images of America Books
Arcadia Publishing is well-known for its Images of America series, which focuses on local history through photographs. These books are dedicated to individual towns and cities across the United States, and many specifically cover areas in New England. The Images of America series are visually rich and often contain numerous photos of residential streets and individual homes from different eras. You might be fortunate enough to find a photograph of your house within these pages. These books are readily available at local libraries, historical societies, and bookstores, making them an accessible resource for your photo search. Check the local history section of your library or bookstore for titles related to your town or region.
3. Ask Your Neighbors for Help
Sometimes, the best resources are closer than you think. Your neighbors, especially those who have lived in the area for a long time, can be surprisingly helpful in your quest for old photos of your home. While they may not have intentionally photographed your house, it could easily appear in the background of their family photos. Think about neighborhood events, block parties, or children playing in the street – your house might be in the backdrop of these everyday moments captured on film. Reach out to your long-term neighbors and politely inquire if they might have any old photo albums or boxes they would be willing to look through. You could uncover a hidden gem right next door.
4. Track Down Former Owners
Former residents of your home are highly likely to possess old photos of the property. After all, it was once their family home, and photographs are a natural part of preserving those memories. The challenge lies in locating these former owners or their descendants. This might require some detective work. Start by asking your current neighbors if they have any information about previous owners. You can also consult public records, online genealogy resources, or even social media to try and trace them. Once you have contact information, send a polite and respectful letter or email explaining your project and asking if they might have any photos they would be willing to share or allow you to copy. Offer to cover any costs associated with scanning or copying photos to make the process as easy as possible for them.
5. Consult the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)
If you own an older home, particularly one with historical or architectural significance, it’s worth checking the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) collection at the Library of Congress website. HABS was established during the Great Depression as a Works Progress Administration project to employ architects and photographers in documenting historic buildings across the country. The HABS collection includes detailed records, often with photographs and architectural drawings, of thousands of historic homes and structures dating back to the 1930s and earlier. Searching the HABS database could reveal professionally documented images of your house from decades ago, providing a valuable historical perspective.
6. Explore Local History Books Beyond Photo Collections
Don’t limit your search to books specifically focused on photographs. General local history books, whether they cover your town, county, or region, can also contain images or illustrations of homes from the past. These books often incorporate historical photographs alongside textual accounts of local events, families, and landmarks. Peruse the local history section of your library or local bookstores for these books. Some older local histories were published in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and could contain very early images of your property.
7. Visit Your Local Library History Room
Many libraries have dedicated local history rooms or collections that are separate from the general stacks. These rooms are often specialized repositories for historical documents, maps, newspapers, and photographs related to the local area. You might be unaware of this resource if you haven’t specifically inquired about it. Local history rooms often require signing in and may have restricted access to protect their valuable collections. Within these rooms, you could discover a wide range of resources, including old photographs of homes that are not available elsewhere. Ask your librarian about the existence and access procedures for your library’s local history room.
8. Scour Old Newspapers for Visual Clues
Old newspapers can be a surprisingly rich source of historical photographs, although finding images of your specific house might require more effort. If your home is located near the town center or in a prominent neighborhood, it’s more likely to be captured in photographs of local events. Newspapers often feature images of town parades, holiday decorations, community festivals, and even news coverage of significant events like floods or storms. If your house is in the background of such photos, you might just spot it. Newspaper archives are often available on microfilm or online databases at libraries and historical societies. Keyword searches related to your street or neighborhood, combined with date ranges, can help you narrow down your search.
9. Review Real Estate Listing Sheets and Advertisements
Real estate records, particularly listing sheets and advertisements, can be valuable sources of photos, especially if your house has been sold multiple times in recent decades. Real estate listings often include photographs of the property, and older listings, even before the digital age, might exist in printed form at local real estate offices or historical societies. Contact local real estate agents and inquire if they have archives of past listings for your address. Keep in mind that computerized listings are generally available only for the last 10-20 years. However, some historical societies and real estate archives may have physical copies of listings dating back further. Additionally, before online listings, real estate advertisements in local magazines and newspapers sometimes included photographs of featured properties.
10. Check Historical Commission Survey Sheets
In the 1970s and 1980s, many local historical commissions undertook surveys of historic properties within their towns. These surveys aimed to identify and document buildings of historical or architectural significance. A key component of these survey sheets was often a photograph of the property. Check with your local library or town hall to see if historical commission survey sheets exist for your area. If they do, they could contain a photo of your house from that period. State historical preservation offices may also hold copies of these survey sheets.
Finding old photos of your home can be a fascinating detective project. By exploring these diverse resources, from local historical societies to online archives and even your neighbors’ photo albums, you significantly increase your chances of uncovering visual treasures from your home’s past. Happy hunting, and enjoy the journey of discovery!
