Research and Documentation

Documenting Properties for the National Register of Historic Places

For proposed National Register nominations, please consult the following items for assistance in researching and documenting a historic property and/or district. Documentation for the National Register differs depending on the type of property or district being nominated. For complex or less well known or researched properties, please contact HPD’s National Register staff for additional guidance.

• Documenting a Property in Georgia
• Documenting a Property in Atlanta
• Writing the Developmental History of a Community in Georgia (pdf)
• How to Cite Sources for National Register Nominations in Georgia (pdf)
• Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps (pdf)
• Preparing Maps for Proposed National Register District Nominations
• Don’t Forget the Wife and Kids: Documenting All the Residents of Your Historic House

Building Types and Architectural Styles

The Historic Preservation Division (HPD) developed standard terminology for building types and architectural styles in Georgia to assist in identifying and documenting historic resources. Buildings are identified according to their type, which is the overall form of the building, height, and floorplan. The architectural style of a building is the exterior decoration. Building may or may not express a particular architectural style.

See: Building Types and Architectural Styles 

Statewide Historic Contexts

A number of statewide historic context studies are available for Georgia’s historic resources.

See: Statewide Historic Contexts

Where to Find Information

• Research Files available at HPD (pdf)
  Files are available for researchers by appointment only. You can make an appointment by emailing the following subject area contacts:
  • Environmental Review- er@dca.ga.gov
  • National Register- Olivia Head, olivia.head@dca.ga.gov 
  • Survey- Hannah Murphey, hannah.murphey@dca.ga.gov
  Research times may vary depending on HPD staff availability. Please call ahead to be sure you can access the files. Copies or scans to a flash drive are 25 cents per page. The files do not circulate. Preferred method of payment is by cash. Checks can be made out to: Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
• Georgia Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographical Information System (GNAHRGIS)
  A web-based geographical information system designed to store and display information about Georgia's natural, archaeological, and historic resources. The system went on line on May 4, 2005, with information about the state's archaeological and historic resources.
• Digital Library of Georgia
• Directory of Historical and Cultural Organizations in Georgia
• Georgia Archives (Georgia’s Department of Archives and History)
• Georgia’s Virtual Vault
• National Archives