Historic Preservation Society of Durham
Directions for Plaque Application
The information provided by the applicant will be used in the consideration of the request for a plaque. Accurate dates and correct full names are important, and the sources of all information must be recorded in the spaces provided on the worksheet. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
The name on the plaque will be assigned by the committee based on the information presented. The name, in addition to the additional information requested, provide the house or building with personality and make for a meaningful property.
The building will be named when possible for the original owner or resident. Other owners or residents may be added if they occupied the building for a significant part of its history, or made any significant architectural changes to the building, or are deemed to have been important to the history of Durham.
Your application and all additional information generated by your research will be kept permanently in the records of the Historic Preservation Society of Durham. A copy will be submitted to the North Carolina room at the Durham County Public Library.
The following must be included for an application to be complete:
___ A. The Architectural Review Committee requires the original application form and documentation (i.e. copies of deeds, maps, etc.).
___ B. One photocopy of the application form and documentation must also be included.
___ C. Three photographs of the structure are required.
Resource List (Where to find the requested information)
Note: Durham Co. was formed in 1881 by taking a large section of Orange Co. and combining it with a small piece of Wake Co. As a result, most land records that pre-date 1880 will be found in Orange Co. Durham Co. grew in 1911 when Carr Township was added to Durham Co. from Wake Co.
Old Durham Co. Courthouse (200 East Main). Check Land Records first, there one may find a file for each land parcel with the deeds enclosed.
1. Land Records (1st floor, on left)
2. Deeds & Plat books (rear of basement)
3. Marriage Certificates (right front of basement)
Planning Dept. (in basement of City Hall)
4. Local Historic District Preservation Plan
5. National Register Nominations
6. Wills (3rd floor of New Durham Court House, 201 E Main)
7. Birth & Death Certificates
8. Durham Arch. and Hist. Inventory
9. Durham/Orange County Maps
10. Sanborne Insurance Maps
11. City Directories
12. Newspaper Obituaries
13. Census Records
14. Family Histories
15. Cemetery Records
16. Local History Books
17. Photographs
18. Former Plaque Applications
19. Church Records
Revised 2004
Historic Preservation Society of Durham
Plaque Application
(Please type or print clearly, * denotes optional information, add more sheets as needed)
Section I. Current Owner / Plaque Applicant Information
Note: If this application is being filled out for a non-residential plaque, include the name
of the organization and the name and title of the contact person.
Applicant’s Name: ______________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________
Please indicate how to best reach you by phone. List at least two dependable methods.
home ( __ __ __ ) __ __ __ - __ __ __ __ office ( __ __ __ ) __ __ __ - __ __ __ __
cell ( __ __ __ ) __ __ __ - __ __ __ __ pager ( __ __ __ ) __ __ __ - __ __ __ __
fax ( __ __ __ ) __ __ __ - __ __ __ __ E-mail: ____________________________
Mailing Address: ______________________________________________________________
City: _________________________ State: _________ Zip: _____________________
Section II. Identification Information for the Nominated Structure:
If the structure has been moved from another site, also note the former location.
Address: _____________________________________________________________________
PIN Number: ________________________________ Parcel Number: ____________________
Section III. Chain of Title (from Deed Books, easiest to work from current owner back)
Book______ Page______ Date__________________ Grantee__________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Book______ Page______ Date__________________ Grantee__________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Book______ Page______ Date__________________ Grantee__________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Book______ Page______ Date__________________ Grantee__________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Book______ Page______ Date__________________ Grantee__________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Section IV. Chain of Occupancy (Please check the City Directories in at least 5-year intervals. Once the occupant name is found, look up their name to find their occupation.)
Approx Dates of Occupancy ____________ Occupants_________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
Occupations____________________________________________________________________
Approx Dates of Occupancy ____________ Occupants_________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
Occupations____________________________________________________________________
Approx Dates of Occupancy ____________ Occupants_________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
Occupations____________________________________________________________________
Approx Dates of Occupancy ____________ Occupants_________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
Occupations____________________________________________________________________
Approx Dates of Occupancy ____________ Occupants_________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
Occupations____________________________________________________________________
Section V. Original and Other Significant Owners of the Structure
Research Information: Please include as much of this information as possible. Identify the source of information even if it is from anecdote or legend. Again, use more paper if necessary.
Original Owner(s) Source of Information
Full Name: _____________________________________ ________________________
Full Name of Spouse: _____________________________ ________________________
Birth Dates: _____________________________________ ________________________
*Places of Birth: _________________________________ ________________________
*Marriage Date: _________________________________ ________________________
Date(s) of Death: _________________________________ ________________________
Occupation(s): __________________________________ ________________________
Dates of Ownership: ______________________________ ________________________
Other Significant Owner(s) Source of Information
Full Name: _____________________________________ ________________________
Full Name of Spouse: ____________________________ ________________________
Birth Dates: ____________________________________ ________________________
*Places of Birth: _________________________________ ________________________
*Marriage Date: _________________________________ ________________________
Date(s) of Death: ________________________________ ________________________
Occupation(s): ___________________________________ ________________________
Dates of Ownership: ______________________________ ________________________
Section VI. Construction Date and Builders Source of Information
An exact date of construction is sometimes difficult to determine. See resource list for help.
*Architect: __________________________________ ________________________
*Builder: __________________________________ ________________________
Section VII. Modifications and Relevant Information
_________ _______________________________________ ________________________
_________ _______________________________________ ________________________
_________ _______________________________________ ________________________
_________ _______________________________________ ________________________
Pertinent or Interesting Information about the Property, its Owners, Residents, or History.
Source of Information
____________________________________________________ ________________________
____________________________________________________ ________________________
____________________________________________________ ________________________
____________________________________________________ ________________________
____________________________________________________ ________________________
Current historic designations of the structure _________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
If the structure is part of an historic district, state the name as well as any individual designation e.g. Pearl Mill Village National Register Historic District, Durham Local Landmark, National Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places, etc.
Revised 2004