Local history
Local history studies the past of a particular town, region, or community, using evidence such as records, objects, buildings, and oral testimony.
Primary source: A source created during or close to the events it documents. Local historians use contemporary records and objects to establish what happened.
Local history society: A voluntary organization that researches and shares the history of a particular locality. Societies organize research, talks, publications, and preservation at community scale.
Antiquarianism: The study and collecting of ancient objects, monuments, and documents, especially before modern archaeology developed. Antiquarian investigations helped establish traditions of recording local monuments and artifacts.
Collective memory: Shared representations of the past maintained by a group or society. Local accounts and commemorations influence what a community remembers together.
Archives: Collections of records preserved for their continuing historical, legal, or administrative value. Municipal and community archives hold many records central to local research.
Community archive: An archive created or managed by a community to preserve records of its life and experience. Community archives broaden local collections beyond institutions' official records.
County history: A historical account organized around a county and its places, institutions, and families. County histories became a durable format for documenting regional and local pasts.
Historic district: A geographically defined area recognized for its historic or architectural significance. Local research can support the designation and protection of historic districts.
Oral history: The collection and study of recorded memories and testimony about the past. Interviews preserve experiences absent from official local records.
Historic preservation: The protection and continued use of historically significant buildings, sites, and landscapes. Local historical evidence can inform decisions about which places to conserve.