Deciphering the Past: Discovering House Histories in Kansas City
Missouri Valley Special Collections, a valuable resource at Kansas City Public Library, is helping individuals revisit the history of their homes, a trend that’s seeing growing enthusiasm among homeowners. Discovering when their house was built and its transformation over the years is fascinating, and thanks to a variety of resources such as city directories, building permits, assessment photos, and fire insurance maps, Missouri Valley can aid you in your exploration.
A Glimpse into the Past
Senior Special Collections Librarian, Michael Wells, said that house history was one of the most popular research topics in the Missouri Valley Room at the Central Library. “Sometimes, the construction year of a house can be easily accessed through online city or county property records. But often, we have to dig deeper using resources like our collection of building permits dating back to 1909,” he explained.
One of the intriguing features available for the public is a trove of tax assessment photos from 1940, donated to the Missouri Valley Special Collections in 2012. These photos, commissioned as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project during the Great Depression, documented every standing structure in Kansas City, capturing not just the architectural diversity but also providing a rich cultural snapshot of the time.
The Hunt for Authentic Records
The challenge for most house history enthusiasts is getting photographs of their property from the past. Wells suggests being creative and trying different approaches. If a specific address isn’t documented in the collection, he recommends “searching for things like cross streets, because there are photo collections documenting entire neighborhoods. You might catch a glimpse of your house in such a scenario.”
Another useful resource is the Sanborn maps, fire insurance maps produced by the Sanborn Map Company, offering detailed street layouts and building details. “Sanborn maps provide a very good glimpse of what the area looked like at certain epochs,” said Wells.
Learning to Be Your Own Historian
To assist the community in deciphering the history of their homes, the library is conducting the House History Boot Camp. This 2-hour session introduces participants to the available resources and provides basic guidelines on how to search for information.
For those expectant attendees who might want to bring along their research materials, Wells advises against it. He says, “While it would not be practical for everyone to rush into the Missouri Valley Room to start their research right away, they can certainly go home, armed with their library card, and get started.”
Aside from fostering a sense of community among house history enthusiasts, such initiatives also encourage learning and shared knowledge, enabling individuals to connect more meaningfully with where they live.
In conclusion, as Wells added, “I’ve had a lot of fun doing this. And I’m hoping to do more if the demand stays high.”
The House History Boot Camp is indeed an intriguing venture, and it’s evident that Kansas City homeowners are eager to delve into the past to uncover the histories hidden within their homes.
