House and Building History Research

Every building has stories to share about its history and occupants! There are many reasons why individuals choose to research a historic property, ranging from curiosity about one's ancestral home to proving the age of a particular structure for preservation/restoration purposes. The UW-Green Bay Area Research Center has many resources for individuals researching a historic property. The following sources contain relevant information specifically pertaining to properties in the northeastern Wisconsin region.

Assessment cards

• Layout of building
• Interior/Exterior composition
• Date of construction
• Map of dimensions, shape, etc.

Cemetery records

• Biographical information
• Tombstone art
• Religious affiliation
• Occupation

Census records

Population, agricultural, and manufacturing

• Number of residents occupying property
• Acreage, crops, livestock
• Manufacturing information
• Demographics of residents

Church records

• Biographical information (e.g., births, deaths, and marriages)
• Church history

City council or county minutes

• Ordinances concerning the property (e.g., street names, licenses)
• Background information on public buildings

City directories

• Arranged by address and surname of occupants (individuals and businesses)
• Advertisements
• Frequent publication

Community/county histories

• Information about buildings
• Biographical information about people associated with the property
• Information concerning specific dates or events
• Especially pictorial histories

Corporate/business records

Including commercial histories, financial histories, minutes and subject files

• Types/sources of items sold
• Economic history of the community
• Histories of local business and industry

Court documents

• Civil/criminal litigation involving individuals and companies
• Bankruptcy filings

Deeds

• Title (proves ownership of property)
• Valuation of property
• Transfer of property
• Dates of construction, remodeling, or renovation

Estate records

Including wills, appraisals and administration of estates

• Value of dwelling
• Property transfer
• Ownership transfer
• Sale of property possibly omitted by the deed
• Family information
• Property/building description
• Personal possessions

Family papers or personal records

Including letters/diaries and family histories

• Detailed information about the building (e.g., descriptions, architectural plans, historical documentation, photographs)
• Family information

Fox Valley Historical Records Survey

• Searchable by address and business names
• Includes photographs

Maps and plats

Including town maps, property plats, private maps, Sanborn Insurance maps, atlases, W.P.A. survey maps, land ownership maps and Belgian-American farm survey maps

• Location and boundaries
• Outbuildings
• Any added or razed structures
• Material composition of the building
• Ownership
• Specific uses of buildings

National and State Register of Historic Places

• Searchable by county, building name, street address
• Includes photographs

Newspapers

Including centennial editions

• Advertisements
• Articles about historical buildings
• Articles about an individual associated with the property
• Chronologies

Oral histories (Belgian-American)

• Personal accounts by past owners, family members or neighbors concerning the property's original appearance, significance, or evolution

Photographs/postcards

• Architectural and land information
• Remodeling/renovation
• Associated structures

Tax records

• Date of construction
• Valuation (increase in value suggests building improvements or construction of new outbuildings)
• Ownership/transfer of ownership