Get Involved
Help preserve local history for future generations. Whether you have five minutes or five hours, there's a way for you to contribute.
When It Was thrives because of passionate community members who care about preserving history. Every photo shared, every business documented, and every memory recorded helps build a more complete picture of our shared past. Here's how you can get involved.
Share Historical Photos
Do you have old photographs collecting dust in boxes? Those images are invaluable historical documents that deserve to be preserved and shared with the community.
What We're Looking For
- Storefront and street scene photographs from any era
- Business interiors showing operations, merchandise, or employees
- Event photos at specific locations (grand openings, celebrations, etc.)
- Construction or demolition photos showing buildings being built or torn down
- Family photos taken at businesses or recognizable locations
- Before and after photos showing changes over time
Even if you're not sure of the exact date or location, submit it anyway! Our community often helps identify details through collaborative research. You can upload photos anonymously or receive credit as a contributor.
Upload PhotosDocument Business History
Do you remember what businesses occupied certain locations in your town? That local knowledge is incredibly valuable for creating accurate historical records.
How to Contribute Business Information
- Submit the name and dates of businesses you remember at specific addresses
- Share details about what businesses sold or services they provided
- Note interesting facts like ownership changes or notable events
- Provide approximate dates if you don't remember exact years
- Mention businesses from any era, not just recent decades
Your memory might seem ordinary to you, but it's filling crucial gaps in the historical record. We verify all submissions with additional research, so don't worry if you're not 100% certain of every detail.
Submit Business RecordsShare Your Stories
Personal memories and anecdotes bring history to life. Your experiences shopping at a particular store, working at a business, or attending events create rich context that pure data can't capture.
Stories We Want to Hear
- What it was like to visit or work at local businesses
- Memories of special events or significant moments at locations
- Family connections to businesses or buildings
- Changes you've witnessed in your neighborhood over the years
- Quirky details that made places memorable
- How locations were important to the community
Stories can be short anecdotes or longer recollections. We welcome all perspectives and encourage diverse voices to share their unique experiences of local history.
Share Your StoryAdd New Locations
Help expand our database by adding historically significant locations that aren't yet in our system. If you know of an important address, building, or landmark, add it!
Types of Locations to Add
- Commercial buildings that housed multiple businesses over time
- Historically significant residences or mansions
- Former landmarks that have been demolished
- Locations of important community events
- Buildings with interesting architectural or historical significance
Once a location is in the system, other contributors can add businesses, photos, and stories associated with that address, creating a comprehensive historical record.
Add LocationsBecome a Researcher
If you enjoy digging through archives, old newspapers, and city directories, consider becoming an active researcher. Help verify submissions and fill in missing information.
Research Opportunities
- Cross-reference business listings with historical city directories
- Search newspaper archives for business advertisements and articles
- Explore local historical society collections
- Help date photographs using contextual clues
- Verify and expand existing location records
- Track down rare or missing historical documentation
Researchers play a vital role in ensuring accuracy. We provide guidance on research methods and access to helpful resources. See our Research Tips guide to get started.
Become a ResearcherHelp Expand to New Cities
Want to see When It Was in your hometown? We're actively looking for community leaders to help launch the platform in new locations across the country.
Becoming a City Ambassador
- Coordinate with local historical societies and archives
- Help recruit contributors from your community
- Seed initial location and business data for your area
- Promote the platform through local networks
- Provide local expertise and historical context
City ambassadors receive special recognition and help shape how the platform serves their community. Contact us if you're interested in bringing When It Was to your city.
Express InterestWhy Your Contribution Matters
Every submission helps build a more complete historical record. When you share a photo, you might be preserving the only visual record of a building. When you document a business, you're ensuring that history isn't lost. When you share a story, you're giving future generations a window into what life was really like.
History isn't just about dates and facts—it's about people, communities, and shared experiences. Your contributions help ensure that the stories of ordinary places and everyday businesses aren't forgotten.
Ready to Get Started?
Join our community of contributors today and start preserving local history.
Become a Contributor