Research Your Property
How to Research Your Duluth Home
Duluth Preservation AllianceHow to research the history of a Duluth house
Tracing the history of a house, finding its “roots,” involves all the thrills of detective work. You may learn who constructed the house (owner, architect, builder); who owned the house and land throughout the years; who lived in the house and what the residents did for a living; and the appearance of the house since its construction. The following provides guidance on researching the history of a Duluth house.
City of Duluth Records
1. City Assessor’s Office
Room 212 County Building, 218-726-2304. A call or visit to this office will establish the construction date for every house in Duluth. The address of the home or plat and parcel number (listed on tax statements) must be supplied.
2. Building Inspector’s Office
Room 100 City Hall. Not all houses will have complete files, but some records date back to 1889. Information to be found here may include the first owner, architect, builder, materials used, additions and occasionally even blueprints. Files are on microfiche and the public may use them. Only the property address is needed, but often a legal description can be helpful.
Abstract of Title
The abstract of a property is a summary of legal actions pertaining to the property. An abstract includes a list of past owners of the land and dates of ownership. It does NOT indicate when a house was built, because it is a legal record of the land only. But the list of owners is valuable for further research. The following information should be copied for each transaction in the abstract: type of transaction (deed or mortgage); date of transaction; and names of the buyer and seller.
This information can then be used in tracing ownership in city directories. Abstracts might be in the possession of the homeowner or the mortgage holder (usually a bank or savings and loan). Mortgage holders will allow one to examine an abstract in the office and will sometimes allow the owner to take the document out for examination.
St. Louis County
County Recorder’s Office
Room 101 of the Courthouse, has the same information as that recorded on the Abstract of Title, but each transaction must be traced through real estate documents using indexes. Staff in the Recorder’s Office will help patrons in the retrieval of information, answering specific questions and making photocopies. But because of the time-consuming nature of these searches, this source is recommended ONLY if the information cannot be found elsewhere.
Duluth Public Library
1. City Directories
will indicate the resident of each house (not necessarily the owner). Duluth directories from 1883 to 1982 are on microfilm. Directories from 1924 to the current year are on the shelves. Early directories have only the alphabetical listing by residents’ last names. The 1930 directory is the first with a street-by-street listing. By starting with the most recent directory and working backwards to 1930, one can develop a complete list of occupants at a single address. One can sometimes extend the date of occupancy back to the date of construction, if before 1930, by tracing the name backwards in the directories. If the name disappears before the known building date, the Abstract of Title will have to be consulted to obtain earlier names.
2. Duluth Houses
A Key to Slides, Clippings and Other References. This is an index to information the library has on Duluth houses. Ask at the reference desk to examine this document. A clipping file of selected Duluth houses is available.
3. Duluth newspapers on microfilm may be helpful
Early newspapers sometimes made note of a house being built or sold. Occasionally recently constructed houses were pictured. After obtaining the date of construction, one can examine newspapers for mention of a house. Newspapers at the library are:
- Duluth Evening Herald 1887–1982
- Duluth Weekly Herald 1889–1917
- Duluth Minnesotian 1869–1878
- Lake Superior News 1878–1881
- Commonwealth 1892–1896
- Duluth Daily Star 1907–1909
- Weekly Tribune 1870–1918
- Daily News 1886–1892
- Duluth News Tribune 1893–present
4. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
These are on microfilm for the years 1884/1885, 1888, 1908/1909 (the most complete set of maps) with updates for 1932 and 1935. These may be the best source of information on the appearance of old houses, because the “footprint” (plan view) of each building is drawn to scale, indicating the shape of the home. The size of the house and construction materials also are noted.
5. Historical Atlases
Show the size and shape of buildings and lots, can be examined. Ask for them at the reference desk.
- Atlas of the City of Duluth by Fred’k B. Roe (1890, with supplement of 1893)
- Atlas of the City of Duluth, Minnesota by C.P. Frank (1902)
- Atlas of the City of Duluth, Minnesota by the Duluth Board of Realtors (1924)
6. The Biographic File
A collection of newspaper articles on Duluth residents. Ask at the reference desk for location.
7. Federal and State Census Rolls
These are on microfilm and can be examined to find family members, occupations, etc.
Northeast Minnesota Historical Center
The Northeast Minnesota Historical Center is located in the UMD Library and is staffed by one person, so visitors should call the center, at 726–8526, before planning a visit. What’s available:
- Original city directories from 1882 to 1989 are available, but many are fragile
- Historical atlases that are available at the Duluth Public Library also are at the Center
- The Hyvarinen Collection contains information copied from newspapers, city and county offices. Files are arranged by street address
- Photographs of some Duluth houses are available
St. Louis County Historical Society
The St. Louis County Historical Society is a local organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of St. Louis County and the greater Duluth region through archives, exhibits, and educational programs.
Minnesota Historical Society
The Minnesota Historical Society is a statewide organization dedicated to preserving Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage through museums, historic sites, archives, and educational programs.
Former owners, neighbors and relatives
These people may have information and/or old photos of the house and neighborhood.
Before You Begin
Gather as much of the following information as possible before visiting local archives or city offices:
- Property address
- Parcel ID or tax number
- Approximate construction date
- Names of previous owners (if known)
- Old photographs or documents related to the home
Having these details handy can make your research much faster and more accurate.
Tip: Start with the newest records and work backward through time.
Helpful Research Tips
- Check historic newspapers for mentions of your home or neighborhood.
- Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps can reveal additions and structural changes over time.
- City directories often list residents’ occupations and family members.
- Don’t overlook neighbors and former owners — they may have photos or stories unavailable anywhere else.
Hidden Gem
The Duluth Public Library’s clipping files and local history collections contain unique information on many historic homes throughout the city.
Duluth East End Survey
These documents explored the history, architecture, and development of Duluth’s East End neighborhood during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The surveys documented historic homes, prominent residents, influential architects, and the industries that shaped the area, including mining, lumber, banking, and transportation. Photographs, maps, architectural analysis, and historical research highlighted the East End’s significance as one of Duluth’s most important historic residential districts.
