Researching the History of a Building
Texas/Dallas Sources
Sources for information about buildings in the Texas/Dallas History and Archives Division of the Dallas Public Library.
These materials can help you determine when a building was constructed and/or remodeled, for whom it was built, the identity of the architect or contractor, and information about who has lived or worked in the structure.
Researchers will generally need to know three things to begin their research:
1. Address
2. Owner (if other than researcher)
3. Legal Description (Addition name/lot & block number)
1. City Directories -- microfilm 1873-1975; paper 1976- present
Older city directories have three types of listings:
1. name (by name of person or business)
2. street (after 1901; arranged alphabetically by street name and then by number)
3. by type of business or occupation (i.e. grocers, attorneys, banks, etc.)
Unless you know that a particular person or firm has occupied the building for its entire existence, it is generally most helpful to begin by tracing the address listings for a property.
To find the estimated date of construction, trace the street address back in time until it no longer appears in the directory. For example if an address is listed in the 1920 directory, but not in the 1919 directory, you can estimate a construction date of 1919. The estimated date of construction is back-dated one year from the year of the directory because data was collected for the directory the year before it was published.
While you are checking the street listings, write down the name of the occupant for each year that you check. With this information, you can then check the alphabetical name entries which give information about a person's occupation or the type of business that was conducted.
Watch the way street numbers are listed very carefully--the streets were renumbered at least two times (1891-92 and 1911). The 1911 directory gives both the old and new numbers. Listings by street address do not appear until 1901. Before this, people and businesses are listed only alphabetically with addresses following names or by the type of business. If the building you are researching pre-dates 1901, find the 1901 directory street listing and note the name of the occupant. Then trace the name of the occupant in earlier directories.
2. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps -- microfilm
These maps show the locations and street addresses of buildings, construction materials used, outlines (or footprints) of buildings indicating porches, number of stories, outbuildings, etc. Sanborn maps were not produced every year, but the microfilm for Dallas covers the period from 1885 until 1970 with varying degrees of completeness.
See the "Sanborn Map Users Guide" at the Texas/Dallas History public service desk for more information.
Sanborn Maps from 1885 to 1952 are now available online in the Texas/Dallas History reading room. Researchers with a valid Dallas Public Library card may also access the maps remotely. Visit the Dallas Public's Library database page and follow the directions to enter the TexShare database. Then, choose "Texas Digital Sanborn Maps" from the list of Genealogy and History resources.
3. Bracey's Block Maps of the City of Dallas -- 1937, 1942, 1949, 1954, 1958 (microfilm--filed under "Bracey's")
These maps are accessed using the legal description of the property and show ownership as of the date specified.
The Real Estate Data, Inc. guides (Texas/Dallas History holds printed volumes/ microfiche for 1966, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1984) may also be helpful. The guides list property ownership for Dallas and Dallas County by legal description. For some years, there are also name or street address indexes.
4. Archives Collections
Check the "Archival Holdings/Manuscripts Collection" guide to see if any of the holdings are relevant to your project. Among the most useful collections may be:
- Emrich Survey Materials (MA 85.21) and Historic Research Survey Materials of Dallas (MA 88.22)
- This project identified architecturally and historically significant properties in areas of Dallas that were within the Dallas city limits in 1940. The surveys are divided into geographic sub-areas, and the properties are then listed alphabetically by street address. The collection includes photographs of the buildings as well as some stylistic and limited historical information.
- City of Dallas Building Inspector Record Books (MA 86.9)
- 1905 - March, 1970. The volumes contain handwritten records of building permits issued. Building permit records will give you a date of construction and any significant changes or additions. They may also give you the name of the architect or contractor responsible for the building. Permits were not required until 1925, but may have been issued earlier.
- You may also wish to contact the City of Dallas, Building Inspection Division, Central Files--located in the Oak Cliff Municipal Center. The telephone number is 214-948-4318. They have microfilm of some (but not all!) of the actual building permits.
- Dallas County Historical Commission Files (MA 86.7)
- This collection contains nomination forms and research for Dallas County buildings that have received Texas Historical Markers.
- City of Dallas Landmark Records (MA 86.15)
- This collection contains copies of the designation reports for City of Dallas Landmark buildings and districts.
- Dines, Kraft & Hexter Collection (MA 89.18)
- This collection contains:
- abstracts for property mainly in the Lakewood area of East Dallas and a small area of Highland Park
- job files (including architectural plans) from the Dines and Kraft Building Company for some residences in the Lakewood area
- There are three indexes to the collection: a name index for property owners; a street index (with job numbers); and a job number index (with street addresses where known). The property abstracts are not indexed, but can are listed by legal description.
5. Newspapers
- Clippings file (both microfilm and paper); arranged alphabetically by subject or name
- Dallas newspapers (microfilm)
- Dallas Morning News Historical Archive (1885-1977) is available online at all Dallas Public Library locations. Researchers with a valid Dallas Public Library card may access the archive remotely by visiting the database subscription page and following the directions for the Newsbank or Dallas Morning News links. Researchers without a Dallas Public Library card may access the fee-based database at www.dallasnews.com. Choose "Historical Archive" from the column on the left.
The clippings file may provide information about:
- Neighborhood history
- Biographical information about property owners or residents
- Biographical information about architects or contractors
6. Biographical Information
The Index to Biographical Studies of Texans is a card file index to more than 165 biographical sketch books. It is particularly useful for locating information about relatively prominent persons in Texas from the mid-1800s through the mid-1930s and can be very helpful in locating biographical information about an architect.
Roots Web is a genealogical site that provides access to Texas death records from 1964 to 1998 as well as records from many other states. It is useful in finding death dates for previous occupants so that you can check an obituary for the names of descendants who might have historic photographs or building plans. Texas/Dallas History has earlier death indexes (1903-1963) on microfilm.
7. Photographs
Many of the library's historic photographs are filed in a self-indexing subject file called the "Historic Photograph Collection Visual Index." Among the categories you might want to check are: Buildings; Businesses (for commercial structures); Streets; Houses; Schools; Theaters; Views of Dallas and Shopping Centers. Photographs in this browsing file may be photocopied (Xeroxed), and copy prints are available from our photographic service at a nominal cost.
A number of photographs may also be viewed via the library's Online catalog.
Texas/Dallas History also has aerial photographs of Dallas/Dallas County from 1930, 1942, 1950, 1964, and 1979. These images may not be photocopied, but photographs without flash are allowed.
8. Magazines
Dallas -- a magazine published by the Dallas Chamber of Commerce beginning in the 1920s. Issued monthly, the magazine is not indexed. It contains information about the construction of buildings and profiles on businessmen in Dallas.
Holland's Magazine -- covers 1907-1953 except for 1912, 1922, and 1925. This magazine is similar to Southern Living; it is not indexed. Dallas homes are sometimes featured.
9. Books and Pamphlets
Texas/Dallas History has many books on Dallas history, people, and events in the development of the city. Among the volumes that focus specifically on architecture are:
American Institute of Architects Guide to Dallas Architecture, 1999 - 720.97642 A512
Yearbook of Dallas Architecture, 1922 - 720.9764 D145Y
Prairies Yield: Forces Shaping Dallas Architecture from 1840 to 1962, 1962 - 720.9764 A512P
Dallas Architecture 1936-1986, 1985 - 720.9764 T659D
Dallasights, An Anthology of Architecture and Open Spaces, 1978 - 720.7964 D145
A number of other books with illustrations of Dallas buildings can be found by looking under "Dallas--Descriptions--Views" in the subject field on the computer terminal.
10. Dallas Maps
Texas/Dallas History has a large collection of historic maps of Dallas and Dallas County in addition to the Sanborn and Bracey's Block Maps listed earlier. Maps of specific neighborhoods or areas of town, street railway routes, and utility services are also available. Consult the "CTX Map Indexes by Place, Year, Subject and Title" volume which indexes the map collection.
Other Places To Check
1. County Records
Deed Records (located in the Records Building) are another way to trace the owners of a property. To do this, you will need to know the name of the Addition and the Lot and Block number (or, for rural properties, the survey name and tract number). To start, you should know the name of the current owner. Trace the property back in the indexes going from grantee (buyer) to grantor (seller). Mechanics liens may also provide information about contractors and architects. Other public records such as probate records may also be helpful.
2. Previous Property Owners
Once you know the names of previous property owners, you may be able to find their current address or telephone number in city or telephone directories. Be considerate when contacting former owners, and show them the same respect you would want to receive if a stranger were contacting you to ask questions about your family and home. Some families may have kept personal records (photographs, remodeling records, etc.) pertaining to the history of house and their family. Ask if they have a property abstract, a collection of all the documents pertaining to the property arranged in chronological order. A property abstract can save a lot of work in the deed records.
3. Dallas Historical Society
The Dallas Historical Society has some of the same reference sources (city directories, books on Dallas history, etc.) that the Dallas Public Library holds. They also have picture and archives collections that may be helpful.
9/2003 Revised version. Compiled by Carol Roark. Adapted from "The History Behind the House" by Kate Singleton and "Researching the History of a Structure" by Peggy Riddle.