Indiana Directories

Indiana Wiki Topics

Beginning Research

Guided Research Research Strategies Record Finder

Record Types

Adoption Bible Records Biography Business Cemeteries Census Church Records Colonial Records Correctional Institutions Court Records Crime & Punishment Directories Divorce Records Emigration & Immigration Genealogies Land & Property Military Records Naturalization & Citizenship Newspapers Obituaries Occupations Online Collections Orphans & Orphanages Periodicals Probate Records Public Records Schools and Education Records Taxation Vital Records Voter Records

Indiana Background

Biography Further Reading Gazetteers History Law & Legislation Maps Migration

Cultural Groups

African Americans Indigenous Peoples Cultural Groups Swedish American

Local Research Resources

Archives & Libraries Societies Find a FamilySearch center

United States U.S. Directories Indiana Directories

History

City and county directories are similar to telephone books and are useful for locating people. They were often published annually, listing heads of households, employed household members, and their occupations and addresses. They can be used with census records or as substitutes for them.

Directories are particularly helpful for research in large cities where a high percentage of the people were renters, new arrivals, or temporary residents. In fact, they may be the only source to list an ancestor who was not registered to vote, did not attend church, did not pay taxes, or did not own property. Most households were included because the directories were created for salesmen, merchants, and others interested in contacting residents of an area. They are also useful tools for studying occupations and migration patterns.

Directories of heads of households have been published for major cities in Indiana.

Resources for Indiana Directories

Directories Online

Fold3.com ($) has Fort Wayne City Directories 1902-1923 and miscellaneous years dating back to 1861 as well as Indianapolis City Directories 1857, 1861, 1864-1923 (3 yrs. missing) available online.

Ancestry.com ($) has Indiana directories available online in its U.S. City Directories collection.

The Family History Library

The Family History Library has directories for:

Indianapolis

• 1855–1861 Family History Library fiche 6043992–96
• 1861–1935 Family History Library films beginning with 1376923
• 1940, 1957, 1964, 1970, 1974 Family History Library book 977.252 E4p

Evansville

• 1858–1861 Family History Library fiche 6043896-97
• 1863–1934 Family History Library films beginning with 1376851
• 1902–1910 Family History Library films 186562–66
• 1948 Family History Library book 977.233/E1 E4

For 1858 and 1859, people in professions and trades in most Indiana cities and towns are listed by city in:

G. W. Hawes’ Indiana State Gazetteer and Business Directory for 1858 and 1859. Indianapolis, Indiana: Geo. W. Hawes, 1859. (Family History Library book 977.2 E4g)

Directories are listed in the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under:

INDIANA- DIRECTORIES

INDIANA, [COUNTY]- DIRECTORIES

INDIANA, [COUNTY], [TOWN]- DIRECTORIES

Newberry Library

Holds directories on microcards, microfilm, and microfiche for most states. On a side note, digital versions of their collection may be located on Ancestry.com and Fold3.com.

Websites

• Indianapolis City Directory Collection from Purdue University at Indianapolis, Indiana
• Indiana City Directories at DistantCousin
• Evansville, Indiana 1922 City Residential Directory at DistantCousin
• US City Directories This web site identifies printed, microfilmed, and online directories and their repositories.
• Fold3.com
• Ancestry.com
• Whitepages.com (useful for locating living relatives).
• University of Indiana City Directory Index, 1855-2001.

This website requires a paid subscription for full access. Some subscription websites are available for free at your local FamilySearch Center or Affiliate Library.