Craftsman style home, Long Beach | Interested in learning more about the history of a Long Beach home or building?
The library has compiled this list of resources to help you get started. |
Long Beach Public Library Resources
Long Beach History Index - The Long Beach History Index is a selectively indexed online database which contains Long Beach history related citations. Although the index is available online, the full-text articles are not included in the database. Some articles are on microfilm and some are in the Long Beach History Collection clipping files. Ask a Librarian to demonstrate how to search the Long Beach History Index or visit the Central Information Desk at the Main Library for access to materials in the Long Beach History Collection.
To research the history of a Long Beach home, start with a keyword search that includes street number and street name. Do not include Drive, Ave, Street, etc. Enter the keywords and then press the red arrow. See a sample keyword search illustrated below.
See the sample search results below. In a "live" search the subject, for example Residences - Lemon, will be a link. Clicking on that link will pull up all the articles in the Long Beach History Index with Residences - Lemon as a subject. To view and/or print a particular article, bring the specific citation details (example shown below) to the Periodicals Department to request the correct microfilm reel. Microfilm is available for self-service to view or print. Black and white low-resolution microfilm copies are $.25 each.
The Long Beach History Index also contains additional information that might be of interest in a Long Beach History search, such as biographical information and historical newspaper citations. Learn more about the Long Beach History collection.
City Directories
Long Beach City Directories began in 1899 and were published until 1969. They list the name, spouse's name, and occupation of a person who lived at a particular address. This information varies through the run of the directories. City Directories are available on microfilm in the Periodicals Department of the Main Library or online through our Digital Archive.
Please note, some Long Beach street numbers changed in January 1921. To see if a street name has changed over the years, please see Long Beach and Signal Hill Street Names Changes: 1900-2006. This reference book is available in the Long Beach History Collection at the Main Library.
Telephone Directories
Telephone directories from 1916 to the present are available on microfilm in the Periodicals Department at the Main Library. They do not include unlisted phone numbers. Telephone directories must be searched by resident's last name.
Criss-Cross Directories
Long Beach criss-cross directories (1971 to the early 2000s) are available on microfilm in the Periodicals Department of the Main Library. They do not include unlisted numbers. The criss-cross directories must be searched by street address. The street addresses are cross-indexed to telephone numbers.
Long Beach Cultural Heritage Surveys
From 1979 to 1988, the Long Beach Cultural Heritage Commission did a survey of several historic areas of Long Beach. These surveys are extensive and, for some homes, list important information such as architect, builder, construction date, architectural style, and a brief history of the home. Area surveys include: Downtown and Bluff Park, Cedar-Chestnut District, Drake Park, Carroll Park, Wrigley District, California Heights, Bixby Knolls, and Los Cerritos.
Long Beach Maps
Sanborn Fire Insurance maps (1888-1950) are available on microfilm in the Long Beach History Collection at the Main Library. These maps show street layouts, house footprints, garage locations, etc. For electronic access to these maps, see Resources at Other Locations below.
Census Records
Long Beach Public Library subscribes to the Ancestry Library database, which has unparalleled coverage of the U.S. and the U.K., including census, vital, church, court, and immigration records. It is an in-library use only database.
Win2Data
The library has a subscription to Win2Data, a database that contains information about the current owner of a particular property. It is searchable by street address or owner's name. Request the assistance of a Librarian at the Central Information Desk at the Main Library to access this specialized database.
Historical Society of Long Beach
The Historical Society of Long Beach is a separate, non-profit organization which also provides access to photographs, maps, brochures, selected city directories, the Cultural Heritage Surveys mentioned above, and has a variety of books for sale on the history of Long Beach. Visit the Historical Society of Long Beach website for more information.
Long Beach City Hall Records
City House Number Maps & City Building Permits
Street maps of neighborhoods, the name and date of the original tract recording, original building and alteration permits, and ownership and builder records are available through the City of Long Beach's Development Services Department in City Hall. Click here for the online permit archive.
Los Angeles County Records
Tax Assessment Records
The Los Angeles County property tax assessment records give the date built, original and current owners, data on size and accessory structures, and current zoning for particular properties. These records are available at the L.A. County Assessor's South Office in Signal Hill.
The Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration in downtown Los Angeles is another source of information. In Room 225, there are ownership and tax assessment records from the mid 20th century through 1983. The records from 1984 - present are in a database. Early 20th century records must be accessed in a basement office of an adjoining building. Directions and original parcel numbers may be obtained from the service desk in Room 225. For more information, call (888) 807-2111.
Copies of residential grants and deeds for the Long Beach area are available only at the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder in Norwalk.
Resources at Other Organizations
Magazines
Builder and Contractor (March 1893 - June 1917) and Southwest Contract and Manufacturer (1908-1917) combined in July of 1917 to form Southwest Building and Contractor. These magazines list permits, owners, architects and builders of various dwellings in the Los Angeles Area. They are not easy to use because they are not well-indexed. However, later editions do have a separate section for Long Beach permits. The magazines mentioned above are not available at the Long Beach Public Library. They are available at the Los Angeles Public Library California History Room, USC Architecture Library, and UCLA Charles A Young Microform and Media Services Library. Please call ahead to confirm.
Sanborn Maps
Electronic access to Sanborn maps is available to Los Angeles Public Library card holders through the LAPL databases webpage.
