Starting a research project on US local history? Here are some questions to ask:
If you can't find useful material by googling, try any or all of these tools.
Use search strategies like "newark new jersey zoning" or "pittsburgh municipal records"
Indexes books and journal articles on the history of the United States and Canada from prehistory to the present. 1954+
Print predecessor Writings on American History covering 1904-1954 is in Firestone's General & Humanities Reference (DR) Z1236.L331.
Contains digitized and searchable copies of over 300 years of legal primary sources, such as early U.S. state codes, city charters, constitutional conventions and compilations, and other documents.
FINDING ARCHIVES
You may use secondary sources and examine their notes to see which archives other authors have used.
In addition, consult local public and academic libraries, as well as historical societies, to see what collections they hold.
Finally, these two databases may also point toward archives of interest.
In general, the primary sources for local history can be seen only in the place that they document. Municipal archives, public libraries, and local historical societies all may have material of interest. While local newspapers may be available online or in microform, the records of local government are unlikely to have been published and are unlikely to have been digitized. That said, for recent material, try:
Index to Current Urban Documents (1972-2006)
Preserves and provides access to over 1.5 million publications—including budgets, surveys, statistical records, case studies, planning documents, training manuals, policy guidelines, and annual reports—from over 600 cities and urban agencies in North America.
Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources, 1620-1970
Contains digitized and searchable copies of over 300 years of legal primary sources, such as early U.S. state codes, city charters, constitutional conventions and compilations, and other documents.
Gateway to North America: People, Places, and Organizations of 19th-Century New York
Digital collection of directories, member lists, advertisements, travel guides and other sources, chronicling the people and organizations of New York City from the late 18th through the early 20th century.
Records of the States of the United States of America
This very large collection is the result of the 1940's State Records Microfilm Project, which located and reproduced state records from libraries, archives, and private collections. Includes legislative proceedings, statutory laws, constitutional records, administrative records, executive records, court records, and some local records. There is also material on Native American nations. The collection is arranged by state and covers the 18th and 19th centuries, plus parts of the 20th.
Territorial papers of the United States
Includes "correspondence, reports, and copies of journals of proceedings of legislative assemblies." We have Utah 1850-1902 (6 reels); Montana 1867-1889 (2 reels); Wyoming 1870-1890 (6 reels); Idaho, Montana, Wyoming 1789-1873 (1 reel); and Wyoming 1868-1873 (1 reel).
State legislatures: a bibliography
State Statutes: A Historical Archive (Hein Online)
This collection includes more than 1,600 volumes and nearly 2,000,000 pages of historical superseded state statutes.
We also have microform for material that is not included in the Hein online collections. Search the library catalog for "Heins superseded state statutes" to see if we have the set for your state.
Starting in the 1930's, the Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administation compiled a series of guides to states and important cities in the U.S. They are known as the "American Guides Series" or as the "WPA guides." There is a complete list in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Guide_Series). Many if not all have been digitized and can be found at the Internet Archive
The WPA guides: mapping America
The dividing line between local history and genealogy can be very thin, and the local historian may find resources created for genealogists useful:
Ancestry Library
Has approximately 4,000 databases including key collections such as U.S. Federal Census images & indexes from 1790 to 1930; the Map Center containing more than 1,000 historical maps; American Genealogical Biographical Index; Daughters of the American Revolution Lineage; The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1630; Social Security Death Index; WWI Draft Registration Cards; Federal Slave Narratives; and a strong Civil War collection.
HeritageQuest Online
Includes all of the images, & extensive indexing, from the 1790 - 1930 U.S. federal censuses. Offers more than 20,000 book titles, including nearly 8,000 family histories & over 12,000 local histories. Additionally, there are more than 250 primary-source documents such as tax lists, city directories, probate records, and more.
Fold3
Online access to material from the National Archives documenting a wide range of topics in American history. Also includes genealogical material and a collection of small town newspapers. Formerly known as footnote.com
For access to U.S. census returns, see also: Historical U.S. census
Images of America: A History of American life in images and texts
AP Images (1840s+)
FIMo Fire Insurance Maps Online
Sanborn fire insurance maps contain detailed information on urban structures, property boundaries, and streets. Provides historical information on the history, growth, and development of American cities, towns, and neighborhoods.
Historic Map Works
Digitized maps and atlases, plus associated illustrations and city directories. Includes cadastral maps of the U.S. Covers the world from the 15th-20th centuries.
To find maps in the library catalog, use "maps" as a keyword, e.g. princeton new jersey maps
Atlas of Historical County Boundaries
The Rand McNally Commercial Atlas series and the Rand McNally Road Atlas series begin in soon after 1900, continue until the late 20th century, and are very useful for looking at regional change over time.
Digitized maps of the Home Owners Loan Corporation made between 1935 and 1940, showing "redlining" practices used to perpetuate segregation in housing.
Historical maps, including Geological Survey maps
City directories of the United States through 1860; a collection on microfiche
Reproduces city directories from the collections of the American Antiquarian Society and elsewhere.
United States city directories, 1861-1881
United States city directories, 1882-1901
See city directories in Ancestry Library Edition
| City and Business Directories | County and Regional Histories & Atlases |
| Alabama, 1837-1929 | Michigan |
| Arkansas, 1871-1929 | Wisconsin |
| Louisiana, 1805-1929 | California |
| Maryland, 1752-1929 | Ohio |
| Mississippi, 1860-1929 | New York |
| North Carolina, 1886-1929 | Illinois |
| Tennessee, 1849-1929 | Indiana |
| West Virginia, 1838-1929 | Pennsylvania |
| Virginia, 1801-1929 | |
| Florida, 1882-1929 |