If you bought the security through a brokerage firm, contact the firm and ask if they have a record of your ownership. The firm would have purchased the stock for your account either in your name or the firm's name. Either way, the brokerage firm may have a record of the purchase. But keep in mind, brokerage firms are required to keep these records for only six years. If the brokerage firm cannot find any record of your account, you should contact the transfer agent who handles the company's securities.
Transfer agents keep records of securities owners who hold certificates.
You can find the name and address of a company's transfer agent in the company's annual report. If no annual report is on file, call the company for the transfer agent's name and address. Some companies also maintain investor relations offices that can be contacted by telephone and may be able to provide useful investor information. If the stock was purchased directly from the company issuing the securities, then the company should have a record of the purchase. If the company is not actively traded and you cannot locate it, you can contact its state of incorporation for information.