Researching a historic property can uncover valuable information about its architecture, past owners, and cultural significance. Whether you’re a homeowner, researcher, or preservation advocate, a variety of local resources can help you piece together your property’s history.
Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection
The Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection (The Collection) is located on the third floor of the East Tennessee History Center located at 601 S. Gay Street. The Collection is the local history and genealogy department of Knox County Public Library. As a reference and research library, the Collection’s materials do not circulate nor are they available for interlibrary loan. A highlight of the Collection is its special collections, containing more than 10,000 linear feet of primary and secondary source materials that document the history and development of East Tennessee. Here you will find books, genealogy files, county histories, maps, newspapers, periodicals, yearbooks, and much more.
Knox County Archives
Knox County Archives is located on the second floor of the East Tennessee History Center located at 601 S. Gay Street. The Knox County Archives is the repository of non-current, permanent records created by Knox County government and is administered by Knox County Public Library.
The holdings of Knox County Archives are publicly accessible (except for juvenile records and those restricted by law) and serve as primary sources for court and government officials, legal professionals, historians, genealogists, and the general public.
Helpful archivists are available either in person or by postal service, email, or phone to assist you and retrieve records from closed storage. Archivists are also knowledgeable about the history of Knox County, its court system and records, and strategies for genealogical inquiry.
The earliest records held by Knox County Archives date to the county’s founding in 1792. The year before, the city of Knoxville was established and served as the capital of the Territory South of the River Ohio until 1796, after which it became the first capital of Tennessee. More than 200 years later, the county’s historical records, marriages and divorces, land records, tax records, court records, and more remain remarkably intact and are available to you at Knox County Archives.
Newspaper.com & Ancestry.com
When researching the history of a historic home, online databases like Newspapers.com and Ancestry.com can be incredibly valuable tools. Newspapers.com provides access to millions of digitized newspaper pages, where you can uncover property sales, obituaries, advertisements, and local news stories that mention past owners or the neighborhood. Ancestry.com complements this by offering census records, city directories, and family histories that help trace who lived in the home and how they were connected.
While these platforms offer powerful research capabilities, much of their content is available through paid subscriptions, though some libraries and institutions may provide free access to members. Together, these resources allow researchers to piece together a richer, more personal story of a historic property and the people who shaped it over time.
African American Historical Series Collection – Knox County Public Library
An archive of periodicals that document the history of African American religious life and culture between 1829 and 1922. Primary sources include newspapers and magazines, plus reports and annuals from African American religious organizations, including churches and social service agencies.
Knoxville News Sentinel historical archive on newsbank
Full page images of the historical newspaper archives for the dates 1922–1990 were funded through generous donations to the Library Foundation’s “From Papers to Pixels” campaign.
The collection of Knoxville News Sentinel is three databases with full-page views of the newspaper. The databases trace changes in the names of the newspapers that constitute the publication’s continuation through the period.
Tennessee State Library & Archives
Located in downtown Nashville, the Tennessee State Library and Archives is the official repository for the permanent records of the State of Tennessee and is the premier research facility in the state with extensive holdings in Tennessee, Southern, and regional history. Collections include county records (on microfilm); letters, diaries, private and family papers; a substantial genealogy collection; photographs, maps, sheet music, and other original materials, as well as general reference materials.
Digital Collections, University of Tennessee Libraries
The digital archive of the University of Tennessee Libraries includes East Tennessee historical photographs, cartoons, sheet music, and texts.
Tennessee Sanborn Maps, 1867-1970
Sanborn maps are detailed maps of U.S. cities and towns in the 19th and 20th centuries. Originally published by The Sanborn Map Company, these maps were created to allow fire insurance companies to assess their total liability in urbanized areas of the United States. Since they contain detailed information about properties and individual buildings in approximately 12,000 U.S. cities and towns, Sanborn maps are valuable for documenting changes in the built environment of American cities over many decades.
Destruction of Tennessee’s African American Neighborhoods – Interactive Map
This interactive map overlays historical maps onto present-day maps of Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga, revealing how Black neighborhoods looked prior to their erasure from the landscape by mid-century Urban Renewal projects.