Choose a period
Begin with a street, landmark and date range. Keep modern addresses separate from historical wording. Road names, numbering and boundaries can change, making an apparently exact match misleading.
Find the local collection
Look for a library, archive or historical society covering the area. Maps, directories and photographs answer different questions and may describe different periods. Check coverage before searching.
Make a place file
Keep the date and source beside every note or image. Do not convert historical occupants into a list of current residents. A neighbourhood project can tell a useful story without publishing private contact information.
Further reading
For source material and collection context, visit Library of Congress: maps. Check the collection’s own scope and access instructions before relying on it.