Historical research guides

Practical paths into maps, original records, photographs, and citations. These guides point to the repositories that hold the authoritative material.

Start with a research question

How to research the history of a house in Massachusetts - Massachusetts house-history research guide with historic inventory maps, public records, photographs, and citation steps.
Ohio local-history research starter guide - Ohio local-history research guide with county records, historical maps, original-source citations, and practical starting steps.
How to read a National Register nomination - How to read a National Register nomination: property facts, maps, photographs, significance statements, boundaries, and source citations.
Restore, organize, and cite historical photographs and documents - A practical guide to organize, preserve, describe, and cite historical photographs and documents without overstating what a scan proves.

Use Ohio, Massachusetts, or Explore by state to reach county and city pages with their own maps and record links.