| City Directories
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City directories contain an alphabetical list of residents, much like a phone book, and usually note the person's occupation and home and/or business address.
City directories for Pittsburgh and Allegheny City date as early as 1815 and were published sporadically until just before the Civil War. City directories for other communities also exist, but usually just for the 20th century.
Now that you have an approximate date of construction and know who owned the property during that time, you can look up those names in the city directories to learn more about the person who lived in your house.
In the directories after 1929, you can search for a house by its address as well, which makes searching easier if you do not yet know the names of the former residents.
The History Center has a complete set of Pittsburgh and Allegheny City Directories, as well as some directories for other communities. The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh also has them on microfilm.
If your house is located outside of the city limits, check your local public library or historical society for community directories and information on local families.
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