There are a variety of resources available to help homeowners determine the age, architectural style, and history of their houses. In the Jackson Homestead's Archives you can

• Look for a Newton Historic Properties Survey Form.. If the house was built before 1907, there is a form which will give a date of construction, if known, and a brief history of the house. There are also forms for selected twentieth-century houses and collective forms for early twentieth-century subdivisions.

• Look at the City Atlases to determine ownership of the property and learn about the development of the particular area where the house is located. The City Atlases are also available on microfilm at the Newton Free Library.

• Look at City Directories to find out who lived in the house. City Directories cover the years 1868-1985.

To speak with the curator about your house and arrange an appointment to do research at the Jackson Homestead Museum and Archives, please call 617-796-1462.

Once you know the basic information about your house and its previous owners, you can:

• Visit the Registry of Deeds, located at the corner of Cambridge and Second streets, East Cambridge, Massachusetts to research deeds and probate records for the names of previous owners.

• Search printed genealogies and state and federal census records for more information about property owners.

• Research local newspapers for pertinent information. Newton's local papers begin in 1866 and are available on microfilm at the Newton Free Library.

Historic Newton/The Jackson Homestead and Museum Historic Newton is a public-private partnership between the City of Newton and the Newton Historical Society, Inc, a non-profit organization Questions or comments: Email © 2010 Historic Newton