Planning: Hometown History & Analysis
Part 1: Maps:
Perry-Castaneda Library Map Collection -(Army Map Service Topographic Map Series) International Historic, Country & City Maps (on left side menu, after selecting your appropriate map site, use Ctrl F to search for your City/Town)
UB Libraries Map Collection – Topographic map guide by UB Libraries.
Locating and downloading United States Geological Survey Topographical Maps (type in city, state, then "Find Products" - left side- results, download pdf)
Citing Online Maps:
MLA: example:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Cartographer. Cahaba River Natural Refuge. Map. 1:24,000. 2009. Web. 5 May 2010.
Author. "Map title" [format]. Scale. "Title of the complete document or site". Information date. URL, including the path and any directories necessary to access the document. (The date viewed)
Chicago: example:
U.S. Census Bureau. Merced, California, 1990 Household Size [map]. 1990. 1:91,302; generated by Deb Peoples; using 1998 TIGER/Line. (7 Feb. 2002).
Author or statement of responsibility. Map Title [map].
Data date if known. Scale; Name of person who generated map; Name of software used to generate the map or “Title of the Complete Document or Site”. (date generated).
Part 2: background information on your hometown:
Books
Everything & Catalog
-search by ‘all fields’ – “your town/city” and “State” and history, be sure to note the location of the book (APL, LML)
-in ‘Everything’ tab: to expand search to items not owned by the UB Libraries, check the box on the top right labeled: Add results beyond your library’s collection.
Polk City Directory is available in Lockwood Library, we only carry Western New York city directories. City Directories were published annually and created for businessmen to contact local residents.Printed directories provide home ownership, home value, and adult age ranges. Check your hometown library to see if they have their City Directory digitized, also check HathiTrust and Internet Archive.
Buffalo Online City Directories
NYC Public Library City Directories
HathiTrust
The HathiTrust digital library is a preservation repository and highly functional access platform. It provides long-term preservation and access services for public domain and in copyright content from a variety of sources, including Google, the Internet Archive, Microsoft, and in-house partner institution initiatives.
Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was founded to build an Internet library. Its purposes include offering permanent access for researchers, historians, scholars, people with disabilities, and the general public to historical collections that exist in digital format.
Worldcat
A mega-library catalog containing more than 100 million records contributed by 20,000 libraries, available through Delivery+.
Google Books
Over 15,000,000 books and magazine issues may be searched in Google Books. Check the book against the UB Libraries catalog to see if we own it or Delivery+ can be used.
Databases
Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals: provides a comprehensive index to national and international architectural journals, both professional and popular. — for possible information and/or images on historical building in your town/city by the name of building or by name of your town/city and state
Digital Sanborn Maps: New York Sanborn fire insurance maps of New York’s towns and cities (1867-1970). See guide: ‘How to Locate Specific Digital Sanborn Maps' for finding tips.
Encyclopedias
Gale Virtual Reference Library: Includes subject encyclopedias, almanacs, and specialized reference works in broad subject areas.
Grove Art Online: Provides background information on cities, buildings, periods, styles, and more. It also contains bibliographies and links to pertinent definitions and images.
Historical Societies
Preservation Organizations & Resources
A comprehensive directory of historic and cultural resource organizations provides detailed information for organizations located in each State and Province in the United States and Canada.
Images
American Memory
A primary source materials relating to the history and culture of the United States.
Google Images
For photographs of historic buildings in your town/city, search by name of building.
Using Google – Evaluating websites
Content: What is the content of the web site: images, articles, a blog? Is the content original or reproduced from another source? If it is reproduced, is there a permission statement indicating this? It is very important to verify that this information is correct and hasn’t been altered.
Purpose: Why was this document produced?
Authority: Who wrote the page and are there credentials? Is the person qualified to write the page?
Ownership: check the domain: .edu, .gov, .com, .org, .net. What institution publishes the document and is their qualifications listed? Objectivity: Does the webpage present a bias? What opinions (if any) are expressed by the author?
Currency: When was it produced? When was it updated? Usefulness: Is the web page relevant to the current research project?
Audience: To what type of reader is the web page directed? Coverage: Does the page cover the topic comprehensively, partially or is it an overview?
Part 2: Identifying building architecture
-
Field Guide to American Architecture by Call Number: APL Reference: NA705 .R53 1980ISBN: 0453003753Publication Date: 1980-04-22A comprehensive handbook on American architectural heritage traces the development of architectural styles in the United States, from the simple wood houses of the 17th century to the steel and glass towers of our own day. (illustrations) -
American Architecture since 1780 by Call Number: APL Reference: NA705 .W47 1992ISBN: 0262231646Publication Date: 1992-03-04This is a new edition of Whiffen's 1969 introduction to American architecture, containing descriptions, histories, and illustrations of more than 40 styles. Two new entries on late modernism and on postmodernism are included, as well as a description of streamline moderne. -
How to Read Buildings by Call Number: APL Reference: NA2550 .C73 2008ISBN: 9780847831128Publication Date: 2008-03-18This practical primer is a handbook for decoding a building's style, history, and evolution. Every building contains clues embedded in its design that identify not only its architectural style but also the story of who designed it, who it was built for, and why. Organized by architectural element (roofs, doors, windows, columns, domes, towers, arches, etc.), the book is roughly chronological within each section, examining the elements across history, through different architectural styles, and by geographical distribution. Additional chapters offer overviews of how architecture has been affected by geography, history, and religion, along with an illustrated timeline of architectural elements. Also included is a chapter on applied ornament and a handy introduction to naming each part of a building. All entries are accompanied by examples in the forms of period engravings, line drawings, and pictures. The extended captions make the book invaluable for anyone who has ever pondered the meaning or importance of a hipped roof, rounded doorway, or classical pediment. -
Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World by Call Number: APL Reference: NA208 .E53 1997ISBN: 0521564220Publication Date: 1997-11-27Vernacular - or traditional - architecture encompasses most of the buildings of the world. This encyclopedia is the first to show the remarkable diversity of the buildings constructed and lived in by the people of over a thousand cultures. The first of the three volumes focuses on the theories, principles and philosophy that underpin traditional architecture. Volumes 2 and 3 consider these principles within specific cultural and societal contexts. As building traditions vary widely within some countries and extend across the political boundaries of others, the encyclopedia considers vernacular architecture within its cultural rather than its national contexts. Richly illustrated with photographs, line drawings and maps, the work is also supported by a glossary, a lexicon, and the largest bibliography on the subject ever published. This work will be an inspiration and resource for architects, anthropologists, folklorists and geographers, and important for all who help shape housing and conservation policies. -
What Style Is It by Call Number: APL Reference: NA705 .P6 2003ISBN: 0471250368Publication Date: 2003-10-06Architectural style is defined as a definite type of architecture, distinguished by special characteristics of structure and ornament.<br /> This revised edition of What Style Is It? includes new sections on Neoclassical, Romanesque and Rustic Styles. It also provides more examples of how pure styles vary by geographic region across the US.<br /> ∗ Includes sections on 25 of the most significant architectural styles including Early Colonial, Federal and Second Empire<br /> ∗ More than 200 photos and line drawings make this a visually rich resource. 30% of photos and drawings are new to this edition<br /> ∗ A glossary offers quick access to architectural terms<br /> ∗ Includes an added guide to using the Historical American Buildings Society online catalogue of more than 30,000 historic structures, giving access to more than 51,000 measured drawings, 156,000 photographs and more than 30,000 original historical reports
Part 4: Mini Demographic Analysis: Census
-
Social Explorerdemographic information about the United States including historical data back to 1870 (county level).
Create an account (free)
Select "Tables" - U.S. Decennial Census- > select from the drop down boxes
Select "US Business Patterns", Zip Code Business Patterns -> select from the drop down boxes
Census Tract Reference Maps
Zip Codes
Citing tables from Social Explorer
Census Resources: Historical Resources: guide by Librarian Susan Dow
Citing your resources:
Citing articles, books, websites: Commonly used styles
Citing images:
Citation:
(No Author) Title of work [Type of work]. (Year image was created). Retrieved from URL (address of web site)
Citation:
(No Author, No Title, No Date) -Many images found on the Web fall under this category, to locate the missing information by clicking on the image, and/or looking at the bottom of the image.
[Subject and type of work]. Retrieved from URL (address of web site)
(from: George Washington University LibGuides)