Gear up for part TWO of researching historical properties! In this episode, we talk to our boss - Melissa Fisher Isaacs, Information Services Coordinator at the library, truly a wealth of information - about the resources and librarian tricks involved in learning about the history of houses (and other buildings) in Douglas County. We might or might not answer such gripping questions as... can you uncover the provenance of a corn crib? Listen to find out!
Oranges & Peaches is recorded in the SOUND+VISION Studio at Lawrence Public Library. Thanks to Joel Bonner for composing our jingle and editing the show.
O&P Show Notes
Psst! This episode is a follow-up to the House History Research episode with Frankie. If you haven’t listened, check that out here.
- Halloween happened, trick-or-treaters came to the library. Yay! The word is in: Old West Lawrence is apparently the place to go for candy (except Ruby’s house!!).
- Election day happened, and the results are in!
- The bus route redesign is happening! You can give some feedback here.
- Library update: Community Quaranzines is happening now! Tell your pandemic story by contributing a page for a zine. Write, draw, or collage - those are your options.
Where do you start when someone wants to research a structure that’s not in the boundary of historical/downtown Lawrence?
-
Newspapers (especially NewspaperARCHIVE and Kansas Digital Newspapers)
- GASP! Kansas Digital Newspapers is also keyword searchable!!!
- These often had columns with the “happenings” of the town or neighborhood. Also check for reporting on real estate transfers! You could find out if and when your house was sold and to whom.
- Kansas State Historical Society Plat Maps
-
Section-Township-Range finder for Kansas!
- This interactive map lets you put in an address and/or zoom in to find your section, township, range, and other details.
-
Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records
- Search old records, particularly helpful for homesteader records. Dealing with multi-acre properties that may have been further broken up but it could still be tied to a section, township, range.
-
Douglas County Register of Deeds
- They have property records, mostly of the land itself, but they may have some record of buildings on a property.
- Hot tip: if there’s a big jump in the tax valuation for a property from one year to another, you could guess that a house was built on the land. But you don’t always know for sure.
- They have property records, mostly of the land itself, but they may have some record of buildings on a property.
- This is what a “corn crib” looks like.
- Ask local elders! Older family, neighbors, and community members have a wealth of information. Get to know them. 🙂 Here’s a really cool example of a local history project which collects oral histories.
- Do some on-site archaeology research. Analyze the architectural style, look for dates or names scratched into the foundation.
- We didn't get to this in the episode, but check out this awesome Archaeology Training Program for amateurs from the Kansas Historical Society. They're digging up the Brown v. Board site next year!
- Some miscellaneous resources...
**Bonus**
You Too Can Grill Melissa about History! Register for these upcoming events...
Wed Nov 17: Genealogy + Local History: Research Resources
Wed Dec 15: Genealogy + Local History Spotlight: Kenneth Spencer Research Library
Melissa is reading...
Ruby is reading...
...an evil Pearson textbook that requires a pricey access code. Learn about environmental science FOR FREE with the library's amazing collection of many types of media!
Hazlett is reading...
Got a question for Info Services? We want to help!
Email: eref@lplks.org | Chat: lplks.org/live-chat | Visit: lplks.org
Add a comment to: 007: How to Research Your House Pt 2