Have you ever wondered about the original family who lived in your home, when exactly it was built, or who designed its unique architectural details?
One of the best parts of living in the University District is stewardship—caring for the incredible craftsmanship and history built right into our walls. To help us dive into the past, our neighbor and Oakland University historian, Professor Erin Dwyer, has put together a step-by-step guide on how to research the history of your home and its past residents!
Whether you’re looking to identify your home’s architect or trace former owners using historical censuses and city directories, this guide outlines the best local archives and digital tools to get started.
What You’ll Discover in the Guide:
- Burton Historical Collection (DPL Main Branch): How to use historic city directories to look up your home by address and identify early owners.
- Architect Indexes: How the library’s Music, Arts, and Literature Section (and periodicals like the Detroit Architect Journal) can help you learn more about your home’s architect.
- Geneology & Census Tools: How to access Ancestry.com for free using a Detroit Public Library card to trace census records up to 1950.
- Address-Based Research Tips: Links to National Archives and NYPL resources for finding census data by street address.
- Newspaper Archives: Tips on using databases like Newspapers.com to search for historical references to your house and past residents.
📖 Access the Guide
You can download or view Professor Dwyer’s guide here:
A massive thank you to Professor Erin Dwyer for sharing her expertise with our community!