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United States Directories: Difference between revisions
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''[[Portal:United States of America|United States of America]] | ''[[Portal:United States of America|United States of America]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] '''''United States Directories''' | ||
=== Why were Directories Created? === | === Why were Directories Created? === | ||
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The most helpful directories for genealogical research are city and county directories of local residents and businesses. These are generally published annually and may include an individual's address, occupation, spouse's name, and other helpful facts. An individual's address can be very helpful when searching an unindexed census of a large city. | The most helpful directories for genealogical research are city and county directories of local residents and businesses. These are generally published annually and may include an individual's address, occupation, spouse's name, and other helpful facts. An individual's address can be very helpful when searching an unindexed census of a large city. | ||
===Why Use Directories?=== | === Why Use Directories? === | ||
*Directories are particularly helpful for research in large cities, where a high percentage of the people were renters, new arrivals, or temporary residents. | *Directories are particularly helpful for research in large cities, where a high percentage of the people were renters, new arrivals, or temporary residents. | ||
*A directory may be the only source to list an ancestor if he or she was not registered to vote and did not own property. | *A directory may be the only source to list an ancestor if he or she was not registered to vote and did not own property. | ||
*Learn the exact years your ancestor inhabited a place. | *Learn the exact years your ancestor inhabited a place. | ||
*Locate ancestor in a census that hasn’t been indexed (esp. state census). | *Locate ancestor in a census that hasn’t been indexed (esp. state census). | ||
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*Find other family members. | *Find other family members. | ||
===Potential Content === | === Potential Content === | ||
*An alphabetical listing of inhabitants (arranged by name, address, and occupation). | *An alphabetical listing of inhabitants (arranged by name, address, and occupation). | ||
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=== Finding Directories === | === Finding Directories === | ||
==== City Directories on the Web[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/US/ <br>] | ==== City Directories on the Web[http://www.fallingrain.com/world/US/ <br>] ==== | ||
*[http://www.distantcousin.com/directories/ DistantCousin] - a free, searchable online archive of city directory records and scanned images.<br> | *[http://www.distantcousin.com/directories/ DistantCousin] - a free, searchable online archive of city directory records and scanned images.<br> | ||
*[https://sites.google.com/site/onlinedirectorysite/Home/usa United States Online Historical Directories]- identifies historical city, county, business and other directories available online on both free and pay-to-access websites.<br> | *[https://sites.google.com/site/onlinedirectorysite/Home/usa United States Online Historical Directories]- identifies historical city, county, business and other directories available online on both free and pay-to-access websites.<br> | ||
*[http://www.uscitydirectories.com/ US City Directories] - identifies directories by place and gives repository and call number (incl. FHL film numbers).<br> | *[http://www.uscitydirectories.com/ US City Directories] - identifies directories by place and gives repository and call number (incl. FHL film numbers).<br> | ||
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::[STATE], [COUNTY] - OCCUPATIONS | ::[STATE], [COUNTY] - OCCUPATIONS | ||
There are also special directories that can help you locate libraries, newspapers, churches, ethnic associations, government officials, and other organizations or offices. | There are also special directories that can help you locate libraries, newspapers, churches, ethnic associations, government officials, and other organizations or offices. | ||
=== Directories of Each State === | === Directories of Each State === | ||
The following links navigate to wiki pages regarding directories of each U.S. state. Each page, in turn, links to the major directory collections of that state. | The following links navigate to wiki pages regarding directories of each U.S. state. Each page, in turn, links to the major directory collections of that state. | ||
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===Search Steps === | === Search Steps === | ||
*Check the beginning of the directory for cutoff dates, geographical coverage, and the meaning of abbreviations. | *Check the beginning of the directory for cutoff dates, geographical coverage, and the meaning of abbreviations. | ||
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*After finding a known ancestor’s address in the alphabetical listings, check the street address listing to find unknown ancestors at the same address. | *After finding a known ancestor’s address in the alphabetical listings, check the street address listing to find unknown ancestors at the same address. | ||
===Tips=== | === Tips === | ||
*Directories list occupants (not necessarily owners). | *Directories list occupants (not necessarily owners). | ||
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*Minorities were often listed separately. | *Minorities were often listed separately. | ||
*Others at your ancestor’s address may be boarders. | *Others at your ancestor’s address may be boarders. | ||
*Pay attention to occupations. They can give you an extra “handle” by which you can identify your ancestor in another record. If an alphabetical listing says your ancestor is “Asst. to John Doe,” see what John Doe does for a living. | *Pay attention to occupations. They can give you an extra “handle” by which you can identify your ancestor in another record. If an alphabetical listing says your ancestor is “Asst. to John Doe,” see what John Doe does for a living. | ||
*Streets were renumbered. If your ancestor’s address changes, see if his neighbors’ addresses change correspondingly. | *Streets were renumbered. If your ancestor’s address changes, see if his neighbors’ addresses change correspondingly. | ||
*Second marriages: If a widow is listed at an address, then replaced by a man the next year at that address, check marriage records! | *Second marriages: If a widow is listed at an address, then replaced by a man the next year at that address, check marriage records! | ||
*Find ancestor in all available directories. This yields more name handles, more relatives at same address, and more occupations. | *Find ancestor in all available directories. This yields more name handles, more relatives at same address, and more occupations. | ||
*For blank forms you can use to extract information from a directory, see [http://www.tpl.toronto.on.ca/localhistory/directories4.html www.tpl.toronto.on.ca/localhistory/directories4.html] | *For blank forms you can use to extract information from a directory, see [http://www.tpl.toronto.on.ca/localhistory/directories4.html www.tpl.toronto.on.ca/localhistory/directories4.html] | ||
===What to Do Next === | === What to Do Next === | ||
Directories serve as springboards to other records: | Directories serve as springboards to other records: | ||
====Church records ==== | ==== Church records ==== | ||
*To narrow down the church records to search for an ancestor, use directories to find addresses of churches near your ancestor’s residence. | *To narrow down the church records to search for an ancestor, use directories to find addresses of churches near your ancestor’s residence. | ||
*If you have a marriage certificate naming the minister who performed the marriage ceremony, find his listing in directories to learn the name of his church. | *If you have a marriage certificate naming the minister who performed the marriage ceremony, find his listing in directories to learn the name of his church. | ||
====Land records ==== | ==== Land records ==== | ||
*Directory listings often mention whether the resident is an owner, renter, or boarder. If owner, see land records! | *Directory listings often mention whether the resident is an owner, renter, or boarder. If owner, see land records! | ||
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''Primary Sources -- Directories''. <nowiki><http://www.tpl.toronto.on.ca/localhistory/directories1.html>. </nowiki>27 January 2000 (Accessed 27 August 2002). | ''Primary Sources -- Directories''. <nowiki><http://www.tpl.toronto.on.ca/localhistory/directories1.html>. </nowiki>27 January 2000 (Accessed 27 August 2002). | ||
Remington, Gordon, F.U.G.A. "Needle in a Smokestack: Urban Research." Utah Genealogical Association Conference. Salt Lake City, Utah, 13 April, 2000. | Remington, Gordon, F.U.G.A. "Needle in a Smokestack: Urban Research." Utah Genealogical Association Conference. Salt Lake City, Utah, 13 April, 2000. | ||
{{Place|United States}} | {{Place|United States}} | ||
[[Category:Record_Types_of_the_United_States]] | [[Category:Record_Types_of_the_United_States]] | ||