You can also find permits that cover alterations, so you'll know what was changed and when. With a list of names of your home's previous owners in hand, head to the local historical society or to the local history room of your public library. Your state historical society may have biographical files on previous residents of your home. Old census records. You may find obituaries for previous owners or even articles about them.
Historical photos can be a terrific source of information.
Old newspaper photos may include pictures of previous owners or the home itself. Nancy Widmann found images of one owner's home in the background of photos of Denver's tramway. Through researching the model of the streetcar in the photo, she was able to date the picture to within a few years. If your home is near a prominent building, check books or newspaper articles to see if there may be photos of your home in the background. Look for maps at your local library or historical society.