The Springfield-Greene County Library’s Local History & Genealogy Department is your gateway to the past. For decades, Local History & Genealogy has preserved Ozarks history and culture through expansive physical and digital collections, engaging exhibits and public programs. Staff also provide expert assistance to researchers of all experience levels, helping them navigate the Library’s many historical and genealogical resources.
One of the most frequent subjects of patron research is house history. Researching the history of your home can reveal when it was built, who lived there, and how the property and neighborhood changed over time. These five tips will help you learn about your home’s past using resources available through Local History & Genealogy at the Springfield-Greene County Library District.
Make sure your address hasn’t changed.
Springfield has undergone multiple revisions to its postal addressing system over the years. Because of this, your home may have once had a different address. Contact Local History & Genealogy at 417-616-0534 or at localhistory@thelibrary.org to see if your home was affected by an address change.
Search for your home in historical newspapers.
Old issues of local newspapers can help you estimate when a home was built, identify developers and previous residents, and discover notable events that occurred there. A Springfield-Greene County Library card gives you access to historical newspapers from Springfield and beyond on any device.
Build a timeline of residents with city directories.
City directories are valuable resources for property research because they show who was associated with an address in a given year. The Library maintains a collection of Springfield city directories dating back to the 1890s, many of which can be viewed with a free FamilySearch account. You can use these directories to construct a comprehensive timeline of who has lived in your home.
Check the Library’s Digital Archive for photos of your home.
Local History & Genealogy’s Digital Archive houses dozens of collections containing tens of thousands of images from the Ozarks. Search the Digital Archive using an address, street name, neighborhood, or the name of a previous resident. You may find images that reveal how your home and its surroundings have changed.
If you’re stumped, reach out to the Library!
Every house presents different research challenges, so what works for one property might not work for another. Local History & Genealogy staff can help you identify additional resources and choose the next step in your search. Contact the department whenever you need assistance uncovering the stories of your home, family or community.
Brandon Broughton is a Local History Copywriter at the Springfield-Greene County Library District. He can be reached at brandonb@thelibrary.org. To learn more about the Springfield-Greene County Library District, visit thelibrary.org.
