Researching the History of Your House: Library Resources

Where to Start

There are numerous books and pamphlets that explain the process of historic house research, the particulars of architecture and style, and how to understand the documents used in this research. This site provides a guide to some of the best resources out there, as well as sources specifically related to the architecture of Maryland.

• Sources about the Research Process
• Sources about Wills, Deeds, Genealogies, Building Permits, Maps, etc.
• Sources about Architecture and Interior Design
• Sources about Maryland Architecture and Homes

Sources about the Research Process

• Brownstone Biographies. The House Research Guide: A Step by Step Manual for Owners, Occupants and Other Old House Lovers. Brooklyn, N.Y.: Brownstone Biographies, 1978.
  Location: UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Stacks
  
  Call Number: HD259.B76 1978
  

• Burkhardt, Ann McCorquodale. House Detective: A Guide to Researching Birmingham Buildings. Birmingham, AL: Birmingham Historical Society, 1988.
  Location:UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Stacks
  
  Call Number: F334.B68B87 1988
  

• Cook, Susan E. Case Study in Historic House Research. University of Maryland, 1989.
  Location: UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Folio
  
  Call Number: NA8208.52.M3C66 1989
  

• Howe, Barbara J. Houses and Homes: Exploring Their History. Walnut Creek, CA.: AltaMira Press, 1987, 1997.
  Location: UMCP McKeldin Library Stacks
  
  Call Number: E180.H68 1997
  Location: UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Stacks
  
  Call Number: E.180.H68 1987.
  

• Jones, Penny. Piecing Together Your House's History. Washington, D.C.: Preservation News, February 1989, pp. 16, 24.
  Location: UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Periodicals Stacks
  
  Call Number: E159.N34
  

• Light, Sally. House Histories: A Guide to Tracing the Genealogy of Your Home. Spencertown, N.Y. : Golden Hill Press, 1989.
  Location: UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Stacks
  
  Call Number: NA7205 .L43 1989
  

• Lockman, Heather. Whose House Was This, Anyway? How to Find Out Where You Live. New York: American Heritage, July/August 1991, Vol. 42, no. 4, pp. 108.
  Location: UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Periodicals Stacks
  
  Call Number: E171 .A43
  

• O'Donnell, Eleanor. Researching a Historic Property. Washington, D.C.: National Register Bulletin #39, 1991.
  Location: UMCP McKeldin Library Government Documents
  
  UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Folio
  
  Call Number: E159.N25 no. 39
  
  Online:Researching A Historic Property
  

• Rupar, Terri. Tracing the Origin of Spaces: Owner Sleuths Uncover the History Behind Their Homes. Washington Post, pg. F01, Saturday, November 19, 2005.
  Online: Tracing the Origin of Spaces
  

• Summers, Lydia B. Researching the Old House. Portland, Maine: Greater Portland Landmarks, Inc., 1981.
  Location: UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Stacks
  
  Call Number: F29.P9S85 1981
  

• Wagner, Richard D. The New Old House Starter Kit. Washington, D.C.: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1997.
  Location: UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Folio
  
  Call Number: NA105.W24 1997
  

• Webber, Joan. How Old is Your House? Chester, Connecticut: The Pequot Press, 1978.
  Location:UMCP Architecture Library Stacks
  
  UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Stacks
  
  Call Number: NA7205.W4
  

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Sources about Wills, Deeds, Genealogies, Building Permits, Maps, Photographs, etc.

• Bailey, Eleanor. Outside the Old House: Looking at Archival Photos. Brooklyn, NY: Old House Journal Nov.-Dec. 1992, Vol. 20, No. 6, pp. 20, 22.
  Location: UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Periodicals Stacks
  
  Call Number: NA7125 .O42
  

• Peden, Henry C. A Guide to Genealogical Research in Maryland. Baltimore: Maryland Historical Society, 2001.
  Location:UMCP HBK Maryland Room Maryland Reference
  
  Call Number: F180.P423 2001
  

• Reynolds, Michael M. Maryland: A Guide to Information and Reference Sources. Adelphi, Maryland: Research and Reference Publications, Inc: 1976.
  Location:UMCP McKeldin Library Stacks
  
  UMCP HBK Maryland Room Maryland Stacks
  
  Call Number: Z1293.R48
  

• Maryland State Archives Webpage.

• MDGen Web Webpage.

• Digital Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps and How to Use the Digital Sanborn Maps Guide. These maps are available only to University of Maryland Students, Faculty, and Staff, as well as visitors to the University of Maryland Libraries.

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Sources about Architecture and Interior Design

• Handlin, David P. The American Home: Architecture and Society, 1815-1915. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1979.
  Location: UMCP McKeldin Library Stacks
  
  UMCP Architecture Library Stacks
  
  UMCP Off-Site Shelving
  
  UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Stacks
  
  Call Number: NA7207.H32
  

• Judd, Henry A..Before Restoration Begins: Keeping Your Historic Home Intact. Nashville: American Association for State and Local History, 1973.
  Location:UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Stacks
  
  Call Number: NA105.J83 1973
  

• McAlester, Virginia and Lee. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984.
  Location: UMCP Architecture Library Stacks
  
  UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Stacks
  
  Call Number: NA7205.M35 1984
  

• Poppeliers, John C..What Style is It? A Guide to American Architecture. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2003.
  Location: UMCP Architecture Library Stacks
  
  UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Stacks
  
  Call Number: NA705.P6 2003
  

• Protecting Historic Properties: A Guide to Research and Preservation. Chadds Ford, PA: Brandywine Conservancy, Inc., 1984.
  Location:UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Folio
  
  Call Number: F157.D4P76 1984
  

• Rifkin, Carole. How to Read an Old House. Washington, D.C.: Historic Preservation Jan.-Feb 1988, Vol. 40, No. 1, pp. 44-47.
  Location: UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Periodicals Stacks
  
  Call Number: E151 .H5
  

• Seale, William. Recreating the Historic House Interior. Nashville: American Association for State and Local History, 1979.
  Location: UMCP Architecture Library Stacks
  
  UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Stacks
  
  Call Number: E159.S49
  

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Sources about Maryland Architecture and Homes

• Dowell, Susan Stiles.Great Houses of Maryland. Centreville, MD.: Tidewater Publishers, 1988.
  Location:UMCP Architecture Library Folio
  
  UMCP HBK Maryland Room Maryland Folio
  
  UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Folio
  
  Call Number: F182.D68 1988
  

• Hayward, Mary Ellen. The Baltimore Row House. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1999.
  Location: UMCP Architecture Library Stacks
  
  UMCP HBK Maryland Room Maryland Stacks
  
  UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Stacks
  
  Call Number: NA7238.B3H38 1999
  

• King, Marina. Sears Mail-order Survey in Prince Georges County, Maryland. Upper Marlboro, MD.: Maryland-National Capitol Park and Planning Commission, 1988.
  Location: UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Folio
  
  Call Number: TH4819.P7K56 1988
  

• Marsh, Ellen. Historic Suburb Handbook: Rehabilitation Advice for Older Montgomery County Houses. Rockville, MD.: Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission, 1985.
  Location:UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Folio
  
  Call Number: NA7235.M3M257 1985
  

• Pearl, Susan G.. Victorian Pattern Book Houses in Prince George's County, Maryland. Upper Marlboro, MD.: Maryland-National Capitol Park and Planning Commission, 1988.
  Location: UMCP HBK Maryland Room National Trust Library Folio
  
  Call Number: NA7127.P42 1988
  

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