Compiled from Andrew S. Dolkart’s “Hints on Researching New York City Buildings” and the Brooklyn Historical Society’s “House Research Guide.”

Old atlases were published (by Perris, Bromley, Robinson, Sanborn, and others) every few years and show what was standing at the time of publication, the materials used in construction, building names, historic addresses, and street names among other things. The key in the front of each volume will aid in understanding the symbols and colors that appear on each map. Be sure to look specifically for Brooklyn land books and to check if the atlas was updated at some point after its initial publication. This update is usually noted on a sticker placed on one of the first pages. For example if a 1900 maps has been updated through 1920, what appears on the pages of the atlas are the existing conditions in 1920, not 1900.

210 Joralemon Street, 8th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201, 718.802.3675, www.nyc.gov/buildings
The New York City Department of Buildings has records that contain valuable information and have been kept since 1866. These records include a variety of forms, such as NB forms (New Building forms, with information on building specs, architect, owner, and dates of construction), Alt forms (Alteration forms), Dem forms (Demolition forms), and CO forms (Certificates of Occupancy, outlining how a building was to be occupied at a certain point in time).
The website above (www.nyc.gov/buildings) contains a web query column on the right where an address may be entered into the Building Information System (BIS). This will pull up the block and lot number as well as the basic information on the building. By clicking on “Actions” towards the bottom of the page, you may view any forms that exist on that property, some of which may click in order to view online.
The Department of Buildings for Brooklyn is in the Brooklyn Municipal Buildings on the 8th floor, and may be view upon request by contacting Carlos Piniero (718.802.3635). The DOB has folders organized by block and lot containing the above mentioned forms as well as plans.

128 Pierrepont Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, 718.222.4111, www.brooklynhistory.org/
The Brooklyn Historical Society includes a multitude of resources including land conveyance records from 1699 to 1896, city directories from 1820 to 1913 and 1933, the Brooklyn and Long Island scrapbook collection of newspaper clippings from 1860 to 1960, and historical books on the architecture of Brooklyn.

A collection documenting Brooklyn land ownership from 1699 to 1896 is available at the Brooklyn Historical Society, and is organized by block showing seller and buyer information.

10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11238, 718.230.2762, www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/brooklyncollection
The Brooklyn Collection is the local history division of the Brooklyn Public Library and includes research materials and archival documents such as historic maps, photographs, prints, ephemera, and the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

790 Bushwick Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11221, 718.455.3898
This branch of the BPL is located in the Bushwick Avenue Study Area and has already been designated a New York City Landmark. It is a good resources for information on the area and on neighborhood programs.

Central Park West and West 76th Street, 212.873.3400, www.nyhistory.org, (Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm)
The catalogue of the library is available on the New-York Historical Society Website. You do not need an appointment to use the library and it is free, but photocopying is limited. This library includes NYC Directories, additional atlases, special collections and clippings files, and a large collection of architectural drawings and photographs.

202.707.5000, www.loc.gov
The LOC website is an excellent source for images, such as historic photographs and maps. By clicking on “American Memory,” you can also get access to all of the records of HABS (Historic American Buildings Survey) and HAER (Historic American Engineering Survey). Most of the drawings and pictures of New York City buildings date from the 1930s.

The Arsenal, 830 Fifth Avenue, Parks Library, Room 240, 212.360.8240, www.nyc.gov (Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm).
The Parks Department keeps a diverse collection of primary and secondary source materials on the history of the city’s parks. Once you have targeted your research, you need to call the Library about source materials and setting up a research appointment.

Eugene Armbruster’s The Eastern District of Brooklyn (1912).
Kenneth Jackson’s The Encyclopedia of New York City, (1995).
Ruth Kramer’s Place Names in Bushwick (Master’s Thesis, Department of English, Brooklyn College, CUNY, January 1971).
Henry Stiles’s A History of the City of Brooklyn, Volumes 1 and 2 (1867).

The New York Times, www.nytimes.com, has covered architecture and development since the 19th century, particularly in its Sunday real estate section.
The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/eagle, is a historical newspaper published 1841-1902, and may be searched online.