House History
August 2009
Search Aids
Start here to find information about researching the history of a
house in Pasadena.
Key Resources at a Glance:
o City of Pasadena Architectural and Historical Inventory
R PAS 711.409 P2751.
o A collection of detailed house histories divided by
neighborhood.
o See if your neighborhood is part of the survey by
looking at the map in the Centennial Room
o Get the call number of that volume in the catalogue.
http://catalog.pasadenapubliclibrary.net/#focus
Subject Categories
(Use in catalogs and indexes)
 Architecture -- California -Pasadena
 Architecture -- California -Pasadena -- Inventories
 Buildings -- California -Pasadena
 Pasadena (Calif.) – History
Library Shelf Location
(A call number)
 R PAS 711.409 P2751
 979.4931
o Pasadena City Directories
On microfilm and in the Genealogy Room.
Genealogy call # 917.9493.
o Reverse directories after 1920 allow one to look up
Library Catalogs
house by street address and determine who was
 catalog.pasadenapubliclibrary.net
living there, occupation and spouses name.
 www.calcat.org
o Pasadena Master Index.
 www.worldcat.org
Card catalog in the Centennial Room.
o Look up names of past residents and their place of
employment, architects of the house, name of the
house, if famous, neighborhood, and address.
o Pasadena New Index (PNI). http://www.cityofpasadena.net/library/PNI/default.asp
o Look up names of past residents and their place of employment, architects of the house,
name of the house, if famous, and neighborhood.
o Format for looking up people is Last Name coma space First Name i.e., Burke, Mary.
Format for looking up entire family would be Last Name coma i.e. Burke,
o After you have found citations in the PNI, you can access the actual articles from the
microfilm copies of the newspapers at the library.
Other Useful Resources
Books
 Pasadena : Crown of the Valley : an illustrated history by Ann Scheid (1986) 979.4931 SCH
 Craftsman Style by Robert Winter (2004) 720.973 WIN
 Historic Pasadena : An illustrated history by Ann Scheid Lund (1999) 979.493 S318
 Pasadena Area History by Manuel Pineda (1972) 979.4931 P649 (varies)
Websites
o Pasadena e-resources page follow the path to:
http://cityofpasadena.net/library/e-resources.asp
o HISTORY & HISTORICAL RESOURCES
o Sanborn California Cities Map, 1867-1970.
o Sanborn maps were used primarily by the fire insurance industry and
sometimes provide footprints and construction materials used in homes and
out-buildings.
o With a valid Pasadena library card number, these maps can be accessed
from outside the library as well as inside.
o HISTORY & HISTORICAL RESOURCES
o Los Angeles Times Historical, (1881-1985).
o In this database you can do keyword searches of former residents of your
house or businesses that may have been associated with.
o This database must be used from inside the library, but results can be
emailed to outside of the library.
California Historical Resources Inventory Database for the city of Pasadena
http://pasadena.cfwebtools.com/
o A database which has information of at least 757 single family dwellings
o Includes such information as year built and architectural style.
o Many records have a photo.
o This database can be accessed anywhere without needing to have a library card.
Organizations/Agencies
 Pasadena Museum of History
o http://www.pasadenahistory.org/
o Especially strong in biographical information and city history in general.
 Pasadena Heritage
o http://www.pasadenaheritage.org/
o The group in Pasadena most closely associated with architectural preservation.
o Staff knowledgeable in local architecture and can recommend craftspeople to work
on houses.
 City of Pasadena. Office of Design & Historic Preservation
o http://cityofpasadena.net/planning/deptorg/dhp/homedhp2.asp
o City department charged with the preservation of city neighborhoods. Author of
the Architectural and Historical Inventories listed above. Maintains local history
files.