When I first began investigating the paranormal, I was at a complete loss as to how to gather any real factual data about a location. It didn’t help that I was an introvert (and still am but am getting better) and hated having to go to the historical society to ask for help. Thankfully, as the internet expands and more historical documents are digitized, it is becoming easier to complete a lot of research from home. You will still have to visit the historical society for the coolest items but you can get a lot of information online before you schedule an appointment with your friendly neighborhood history geeks. Below are some of my tips for getting as much information as possible to create a full historical picture of a location. 

1. Tax Information: The fastest way to find out the last several owners of a location is to look up the tax information on the property. The city, county, or state government often have a website that allows you to search for property. From here, you can gather a Parcel ID and property description which is useful as you begin to dig deeper into property records. You can use the Parcel ID to search deed records. I just ran this process on my own home and received information going back to 1976. Be sure to take notes about anyone who has owned the property from this search as you will need this information later. The property description can also give you hints about the entire lot as historically the description contains a nugget of information about the original owner. 
2. Findagrave.com: I LOVE this website and use it a lot! You can type in any name information you have and start making connections. Sometimes they will have biographical information associated with the deceased and obituaries. This is one place you can use the names you found in your previous search to learn if anyone associated with the property has passed away. 
3. Newspapers.com: This is another website that I use all the time. There is a learning curve for searching for information and you have to be willing to dig into the research but a lot of information can be found. You can use names, addresses, dates, general street areas, and so on to get a better idea of things that occurred in an area. Many local libraries have a subscription to Newspapers.com so be sure to get a library card if you don’t already have one so you can access this great resource for free. 
4. The Library of Congress: Did you know that the Library of Congress has digitized an extensive amount of historical information? One of my favorite things to search for is old maps. Old maps are essential to understanding how the property has changed over time. You can also find photos, newspapers, advertisements, publications, and more on this site. So be willing to sink into some history when you log onto this site. 
5. National Register of Historic Places: If your location is registered, you may be able to find the original paperwork on this website. Registry paperwork will have a wealth of information about when the location was built, the architect, the size, building materials, maps, photos, history, and more. 
6. The Local Historical Society: For larger cities, you will find a wealth of information online that can be downloaded directly. If not, you will have to go speak with someone during their regular hours. The first time I did this, I was a bit nervous because once again, I’m not really a social person but the employees/volunteers were wonderful and so helpful. I cannot tell you the joy I experienced when I was allowed to personally view a map from 1823 with the names of every property owner neatly written into blocks. The employee was just as excited as I was as we discussed the people who once lived along the muddy streets of St. Louis. Also, the books are amazing so just go and open a card catalog. You will be so happy you did. 
7. Judicial Archives: Most states will have some form of Judicial Archives so make yourself familiar with your local resources. I recently used this resource to find case records going back to 1805. While not all of the original documents are scanned, you can get a lot of information from here to help you with your project. 
8. University Archives: Many universities are working to preserve vital historical information about the city in which they reside so do not overlook these resources. While not all are open to the public, many do have free online resources. I recently learned that I could use the Washington University Digital Collections to find historical documents related to slavery in St. Louis city. I was able to find a substantial amount of information about Dred Scott that had been digitized. In addition, the university has archived old city directories that are very useful when trying to understand who resided on a piece of property beyond what my original quick deed search may have turned up. 
9. Casenet: In Missouri, we have something called Casenet which can be used to search names and learn about court records associated with the people you are researching. Every state is going to have a different method for obtaining court information so you may have to do some digging in your state. This can be useful for finding probate court records pertaining to why/how land may have been transferred after a person’s death. It can also give you hints into any criminal activity associated with your clients which can be very useful when planning your investigation. 

Are there more resources? Yes but I feel like these are the big ones that will get you rolling in the right direction. While the internet has caused many problems over the years, it has successfully increased our access to a wealth of information that can improve our ability to understand history. While not everyone on the team needs to be involved in the historical research process, someone should know the details so evidence can be easily evaluated in reference to historical facts. Hopefully you don’t feel too overwhelmed by all of this information and can take the time to enjoy the process of learning about the people and places that you visit. 

Until next time, Happy Hunting!