STEP 8: Historical Research
Sanborn Maps and City Directories

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps

Sanborn Maps are good sources of historical information for the subject property and vicinity.  Sanborn Maps were produced from 1867 to the present for over 12,000 cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.  They often show past structures, including businesses and homes.  Descriptions of past site operations, such as gasoline stations, industrial complexes, among others, are often shown on the maps.

The Library of Congress has the most extensive collection.  Free online availability of Sanborn Maps is limited.   Pay for use services are available.  Your best reliable source is the local public library and local college or university libraries.  Call ahead to determine if the library has Sanborn Maps.  Most Sanborn Map collections are on microfilm/microfiche.

The following locations have extensive collections available for review.  This list in not all inclusive; there are undoubtedly other sources of Sanborn Maps available.

UC-Berkeley

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/snb-intr.html
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/sanborn.html

UC-Davis

http://www.lib.ucdavis.edu/dept/govinfo/mapcollection/sanborn.php

UC-Santa Cruz

http://library.ucsc.edu/maps/sanbornsscr.html

Cal State-Northridge

http://maplibrary.csun.edu/Sanborn/SanDes.html
http://maplibrary.csun.edu/Sanborn/Sanindex.html#anchor1161560

Stanford University

http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/branner/collections/sanborn.html

Los Angeles Public Library

http://www.lapl.org/resources/guides/sanborn1.html

San Jose Public Library

http://www.sjlibrary.org/research/special/ca/sanborn_index.htm

San Francisco Genealogy (maps available online)

http://www.sfgenealogy.com/sf/sanborn/sanborn.htm
 

Historical City Directories

Historical city directories (Haines Criss-Cross, Polk’s) are often good sources of historical information for the subject property and vicinity.  However, coverage is limited to urban and some suburban areas.  City directories list by address the current occupant at the time the city directory was published.

Free online availability is limited.  Your best free reliable source is the local public library and local college or university libraries.  Call ahead to determine if the library has city directories.

Kern County Library

http://www.kerncountylibrary.org/index.html