Workshop: Researching the History of Your House

Researching your house history can be an exciting adventure. Discovering your house history offers understanding and a connection between the past and present. The history of your house is not only the history of the structure itself but also the history of the people who have lived there. 

This class will provide information, steps, and resources to support your research of your house. We’ll start with what you know and work back toward the origins of your property. We’ll explore dividing the research into parts such as the land, building/ house, and people associated with the property.

We’ll show you what has worked in the past and introduce you to resources that will be helpful to you along this journey; resources that are available within the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, in the Knox County Archives, and online. The approach is up to you and how detailed your interest may be.

About the presenter, standard: Kevin Bogle is a Library Reference Assistant at the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection. He has 23 years of genealogical research experience, as well as extensive experience with assisting McClung Collection patrons with their home history research. He has the knowledge and experience to draw property information from deeds, tax records, census records, newspaper archives, city directories, and much more, and is skilled at piecing together the clues to craft a cohesive story about a home, the land, and its people over time. After a decade in higher education communications, Kevin completed his Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Tennessee in 2023. He has worked at the McClung Collection for more than two years.

About the East Tennessee History Center: At the East Tennessee History Center, Discover Your Story isn’t just a tagline—it’s an invitation. Whether your roots run deep in East Tennessee or you are exploring a newfound interest, the History Center offers a gateway to the people, places, and events that shaped the region. With a family friendly museum, governmental archives, and a heralded special collections and genealogical library under one roof, the History Center is where personal past meets regional history.

The East Tennessee History Center is a facility of Knox County Public Library (www.knoxcountylibrary.org) and is operated in programmatic partnership with the East Tennessee Historical Society (www.eastTNhistory.org). It is located at 601 S. Gay St. in the heart of downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. For more information, please call 865-215-8899.