How could one weekly report keep tabs on the building activity in and around New York City and the surrounding area? From 1868 to 1922, the Real Estate Record did just that, and for anyone with an interest in urban affairs, it is a remarkable resource. It was digitized by the good folks at the Columbia University Libraries Digital Collections, and visitors can search through each volume by keyword or date. Each issue contains period advertisements, information about ongoing legal battles regarding properties, news about new and ambitious building projects, and so on. It is the primary record of real estate transactions in the area during this period. It's easy to see how this work might be used as a tool in historic preservation courses, urban history seminars, and related educational settings. It's quite easy to use and well-worth several return visits.