Jackson County Historical Society
Archives & Research LibraryThese Walls Were Made for Talking: Tools for Constructing the History of Your Old House in Jackson County, Missouri Courtesy of the Jackson County Historical Society You
may be interested in exploring the history of your house for many reasons. Perhaps you’re interested in restoring or
rehabilitating an old house. Local
history may drive you to know more about your neighborhood or community, and
how your house is a part of that heritage.
Or, maybe you’d like to list your house on a local or national
historic register. One thing’s for
sure. Without owners’ respect for it’s history, your house will never
be a home. A documented house
history connects families through time, and is a cherished gift for future
homeowners to enjoy . . . and contribute to.
A history of your house or neighborhood can also be shared in a book,
in a slide presentation or on a homes tour, and in special exhibits at your
local library, museum, or historical society. Many
Jackson County, Missouri, residents ask the Jackson County Historical
Society: “When was my house built? Who all has lived in my house
over the years? Are there any old photos of it?” Much to their
dismay, there is usually not one single source with all the answers; the
discovery process is often more complicated than they imagined; and, there
are still few original documents or indexes posted to the Web. But there are many resources to explore. Along the way, fascinating facts may be
uncovered about the property, the house, and its former occupants. To get you started, the Jackson County Historical
Society offers some general guidelines, in plain English, in the booklet, “These Walls Were Made for Talking: Tools for Constructing the History of Your
Old House in Jackson County, Missouri,” (Independence,
Mo.: Jackson County Historical Society, 2001). The $2 booklet (plus $1.25 shipping/handling) guides persistent researchers through the varied
resources of the Society’s Archives.
Collaboratively, it also leads homeowners to other private and public
libraries and archives in Jackson County.
To purchase click
here. Here--along with an overview
of what you’ll discover--are some digital links to more information: Integrity Inspection Learn what to look for in
safeguarding the structure’s physical and structural integrity on page 3. Site Survey Discover what other pieces of
information to gather and where you may be able to obtain a wealth of
information about your home and neighborhood on page 3. Start with this list of possible questions
to begin answering: How and why was your neighborhood
first settled? Who settled the area where
your neighborhood developed? What legacy did they leave
behind? What other neighborhoods were
settled at the same time, or in close proximity to yours? Was it near a major employer? Was it accessible to
transportation? Was the lay of the land
improved or unimproved? Were there natural resources
that drew settlers? Did your neighborhood
originate as a planned community? What neighbors may offer
information about the area? Do they
have old photos? How has your neighborhood
changed since its inception (consider how transportation innovations,
changing work patterns, population movements, industrial developments and
even natural disasters have affected the neighborhood)? What were the reasons for
these changes? What remnants of its early
days can you still find? What are the names of the
major streets? How did your street get its
name? Was it ever changed from something else? How are the streets arranged
(grid, circular, cul-de-sac, etc.?) What kinds of public spaces
do you see (parks, playgrounds, squares, vacant lots, parking lots, etc.?) If your neighborhood has a
park, what features does the park include? Can you tell when the
buildings were built or modified? Is the residential housing
single- or multiple-family? How far apart are the homes? What kinds of businesses,
public buildings and religious institutions do you see? What are the buildings made
of? Are there any special
architectural features? Architectural Styles Page 4 will lead you to information
about architectural styles, cultural landscapes, and construction materials
and techniques. Secondary Sources First? Secondary sources are
attractive to the beginning researcher because they are often more readily
available than original documents and they are neatly bound and often
indexed. Get a jump start beginning
on page 3 with discussions about these secondary sources and more: compiled
town, county and religious institution histories, social registers, Who’s
Who-type compilations newspapers, clippings, compiled subject files city
directories, and telephone directories. Mapping it Out Look at all the kinds of maps
there are for you to explore; the discussing begins on page 5. A Deed Indeed and Chaining
the Title Delve into the world of
property deeds and how and why it is important to chain of title beginning on
page 6. Gathering the Vitals Find out why its important to
know about the availability of birth, death and marriage records. And, find out how and where to get them. The vital information is on page 7 and 8. Imagining the Image In Time Photographs and other
personal documents help give you a better “picture” of your home through
time. Various sources are covered
beginning on page 8. A Burning Desire to Know This section on page 8 talks
about fire companies, fire insurance records and fire insurance maps. See just how these record sources can fuel
your desire to learn more. Personal and Organizational
Collections Don’t overlook the personal
papers of individuals, corporate/business records and ledgers, institutional
archives, and civic and social club records.
On page 9, we’ll show you where to find them. Other Government Sources They aren’t always stored
where you think they’d be. Many
records have been destroyed over the years because officials failed to see
records’ inherent historical value (or lacked the budget to maintain them). Other records have been transferred to
county and state archives and historical societies for preservation. Discover what records are available...and
where. The discussion begins on page
9. Digital links Links to information conveyed
in the booklet “These Walls Were Made for Talking: Tools for Constructing the History of Your
Old House in Jackson County, Missouri,” are located here for your convenience. For a much more complete listing, click
on “Jacomo Bookmark” below.
Please help us keep this information current; contact us with corrections and additions. Blue
Springs Historic Preservation Commission Historic Kansas City
Foundation City of Independence Historic
Preservation Jackson County
Assessor’s Department (to find current ownership, assessment and
subdivision information) Jackson
County Probate Records (for an index to probates ca. 1870 to present) Jackson County Recorder of Deeds
(for land and marriage records online since 1969) Digital Sanborn
Fire Insurance Maps (For Mid-Continent Public Library cardholders) Jackson County Historical
Society Archives and Research Library Jacomo Bookmark: Online
History/Educational Sources in and Around Jackson County, Missouri Kansas City Chapter-American Institute of
Architects Kansas City Public Library
Special Collections Kansas City Codes
Administration Kansas
City Health Department Birth/Death Certificates Kansas City Landmarks Commission Lee’s Summit Historic
Preservation Mid-Continent Public Library Genealogy
and Local History Branch Missouri Department of Health Bureau
of Vital Statistics National Archives Central
Plains Region United States Bureau of Land Management
(for original land patents) National Register of Historic Places Missouri State Historic Preservation
Program of the Department of Natural Resources Western Historical
Manuscript Collection Researching
The History of Your House A Bibliography Prepared by David L. Langenberg,
University of Delaware Library If you approach this project
as an ongoing learning process, it can be a fun challenge. Still, if all of this seems too much for
you, you can hire a title company to do a property search for a “chain of
title.” A professional historical researcher may also be contracted to trace
the development of a house over time, prepare a comprehensive report, and
even complete nomination forms to list the property on a local or national
historical register. |
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