Montana Directories: Difference between revisions

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''[[United States|United States]][[Image:Gotoarrow.png]][[United States Directories|U.S. Directories]][[Image:Gotoarrow.png]][[Montana|Montana]][[Image:Gotoarrow.png]][[Montana_Directories|Directories]]''
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==Online Resources==


== Record Synopsis  ==
*[http://www.uscitydirectories.com/mt.htm US City Directories Montana]


A directory is defined as a “book containing names, addresses, and occupations of inhabitants.” It may also be “any list or compilation, usually in book or pamphlet form, of persons, professional organizations, firms or corporations.”<ref>Henry Campbell Black, ''Black’s Law Dictionary: Definitions of the Terms and Phrases of American and English Jurisprudence, Ancient and Modern'', 5th ed. (St. Paul, Minnesota: West Publishing Co., 1979), 415, “directory.”</ref> Several types of directories have been published in the United States over the last two hundred years including: city directories, telephone directories, county and regional business directories, professional, organizational, and religious directories, post office directories, and street directories. Directories have tremendous value to genealogists as both an original record and as a reference aid.
==History==


The sections below provide information about Montana directories. For further information about directories in general, see [[United States Directories]].  
A directory is defined as a “book containing names, addresses, and occupations of inhabitants. Several types of directories have been published in the United States over the last two hundred years including: city directories, telephone directories, county and regional business directories, professional, organizational, and religious directories, post office directories, and street directories. Directories have tremendous value to genealogists as both an original record and as a reference aid.  


== Business Directories ==
For further information about directories in general, see [[United States Directories]].


*McKenney, L.M. ''Business Directory of the Pacific States and Territories, for 1878, Containing names, business, and address, of merchants, manufacturers, and professional men; county, city, state, territorial, and federal officers; and notaries public, of the principle towns of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona and British Columbia. . .'' Two Volumes. San Francisco, California: L.M. McKenney, 1878. {{FHL|197266|title-id|disp=FHL film 1004545 item 2}}. Digital version at [http://www.archive.org Internet Archive] ([http://archive.org/details/mckenneyspac18781mcke Vol. 1]), ([http://archive.org/details/mckenneypacif18782mcke Vol. 2]).
==Resources for Montana Directories==
*''McKenney's Pacific Coast Directory for 1886-7, giving name, business, and address of business and professional men of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Nevada, Utah, Idaho, and Montana. Together with sketches of the different towns, giving location, population, Etc''. Oakland, California: Pacific Press Publishing House, 1886. Digital version at [http://archive.org/details/mckenneyspacific188687sanf Internet Archive].


== City&nbsp;Directories  ==
===Libraries and Archives===


==== Libraries and Archives  ====
The [http://www.his.state.mt.us/ Montana Historical Society], [http://www.lib.montana.edu/ Montana State University], and the [https://www.umt.edu/about/ University of Montana] have some of the finest collections of Montana directories in the state.


Extensive collections of city and business directories are available at the [http://www.his.state.mt.us/ Montana Historical Society], [http://www.lib.montana.edu/ Montana State University], and the [http://www.umt.edu/InformationAbout/Libraries University of Montana].
====Business Directories====


==== Online Resources  ====
*'''1868. '''Maguire, H.N. ''Historical Sketch and Essay on the Resources of Montana: Including a Business Directory of the Metropolis''. Helena: Herald Book and Job Printing office, 1868. {{FSC|526739|title-id|disp=FS Library film 1377090}}. Digital version at [http://books.google.com/books?id=p3FNAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA43&lpg=PA43&dq=Historical+sketch+and+essay+on+the+resources+of+Montana+:+including+a+business+directory+of+the+metropolis.&source=bl&ots=3UyQ3AdZu1&sig=9IzVLw1dxz-hVo6iHj4UnU2-Nc0&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false Google Books].


*[http://www.ancestry.com Ancestry.com] ($) has Montana directories available online in its [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1540 U.S. City Directories] collection.  
*'''1867, 1871-73, 1876-78. '''Langley, Henry G. comp. ''The Pacific Coast Business Directory: Containing the Name and Post Office Address of Each Merchant, Manufacturer and Professional Residing in the States of California, Oregon, and Nevada; the Territories of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Arizona and Alaska; and the Colony of British Columbia. Also, a Gazetteer of the Counties, Cities and Towns, and an Exhibit of the Resources of the Pacific Coast''. San Francisco: Henry G. Langley, 1871. {{FSC|197266|title-id|disp=FS Library film 1004513 item 3}}. Digital version at [http://archive.org/details/pacificcoastbusi187678lang Internet Archive].
*[http://www.distantcousin.com/Directories/MT/ Distant Cousins for Montana]  
*[http://www.uscitydirectories.com/mt.htm US City Directories]&nbsp;identifies printed, microfilmed, and online directories and their repositories.


==== The Family History Library ====
*'''1879. '''Warner, Frank W. ''Montana Territory: History and business directory, 1879 ... Distances, fares, and altitudes, counties, towns, mining camps, commercial, mineral and agricultural interests, with a sketch of the Vigilantes''. Helena: Fisk Bros., printers, [1879]. {{FSC|526739|title-id|disp=FS Library film 1377090}}.


The Family History Library has useful directories for the years 1868 and 1879 on Family History Library film {{FHL|526739|title-id|disp=1377090}}. The library has some directories from the 1930s to 1980s for larger cities in [[Montana]], such as Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell, and Missoula.  
*'''1880-81 1883-84, 1886-87. '''McKenney, L.M. ''Pacific Coast Directory. Containing names, business and address of merchants, manufacturers and professional men; county, city, state, territorial and federal officers, and notaries public, of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia. Together with a sketch of the different cities and towns, giving description, means of support, population, Etc.'' San Francisco, California: L.M. McKenney &amp; Co., 1880. {{FSC|197266|title-id|disp=FS Library film 1004517}}. Digital version at [http://archive.org/details/cihm_17458 Internet Archive].


== Organizational Directories  ==
*'''1883. '''Steel &amp; Co. ''1883-4 Montana Advertising Directory, containing a complete list of the tax-payers of Montana, showing their address and occupation, arranged alphabetically according to counties; with a directory of federal, territorial and county officers compiled from the returns of 1883''. Helena: Geo. E. Boos &amp; Co., 1883. {{FSC|197266|title-id|disp=FS Library film 1697991 item 4}}. Digital version at [http://archive.org/details/montanaadvertis00unkngoog Internet Archive].


*''Directory of Community Service Organizations in Montana''. Helena, Montana: Montana Preparedness and Advisory Commission, 1942. {{FHL|427868|title-id|disp=FHL book 978.6 C44d}}.
*'''1914. '''R.L. Polk and Company. ''Northwestern Gazetteer: Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Montana--Gazetteer and Business Directory''. St. Paul: R.L. Polk, 1914. {{FSC|142321|title-id|disp=FS Library films 1321220-221}}.


== References  ==
===Directories Online===


<references />
*[http://www.ancestry.com Ancestry.com] ($) has Montana directories in their [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1540 U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989] collection. The following cities are currently included: Anaconda, Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Dillion, Fort Benton, Great Falls, Havre, Helena, Kalispell, Lewistown, Livingston, Miles City, Missoula, and Whitefish.
*[http://www.distantcousin.com/Directories/MT/ Distant Cousin.com] has a 1928 Butte, Montana city directory.
*[http://www.uscitydirectories.com/mt.htm US City Directories] identifies printed, microfilmed, and online directories and their repositories.
*[http://www.loc.gov/rr/microform/uscity/mt.html U.S. City Directories on Microfilm in the Microform Reading Room - Montana] (Library of Congress)


<br>
===FamilySearch Library===
 
The [https://www.familysearch.org/en/library/ FamilySearch Library] has city directories for various years from throughout the state of Montana including: 
 
'''Billings'''
 
1901-1935 FamilySearch Library {{FSC|661759|item|disp=microfilm 1843771-1843775}}
 
1955, 1961, 1978 etc. FamilySearch Library [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&query=%2Bcall_number%3A%22978.639%20E4p*%22 book 978.639 E4p]
 
'''Helena'''
 
1889-1901 FamilySearch Library {{FSC|993157|item|disp=microfilm 2156797-2156800}}
 
1902-1935 FamilySearch Library {{FSC|993157|item|disp=microfilm 2309341-2309347}}
 
1929, 1937, 1961 etc. FamilySearch Library [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&query=%2Bcall_number%3A%22978.66%20E4p*%22 book 978.66 E4p]
 
'''Kalispell'''
 
1903-1934 FamilySearch Library {{FSC|1061698|item|disp=microfilm 2309348-2309350}}
 
1955, 1961, 1980 etc. FamilySearch Library [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&query=%2Bcall_number%3A%22978.682%20E4p*%22 book 978.682 E4p]
 
To find directories, consult the [[FamilySearch Catalog Place Search|Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalog]] under:
 
{{Block indent|MONTANA, [COUNTY] — DIRECTORIES|2}}
{{Block indent|MONTANA, [COUNTY], [TOWN] — DIRECTORIES|2}}
 
{{Block indent|1===Websites==|2=1}}
<br>  


{{Montana|Montana}} {{U.S. Directories}}  
{{Montana|Montana}} {{U.S. Directories}}  


[[Category:Montana|Directories]] [[Category:Record_Types_of_the_United_States]]
[[Category:Montana, United States|Directories]]
[[Category:United States Directories]]

Latest revision as of 22:24, 19 August 2025

Montana Wiki Topics
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Beginning Research
Record Types
Montana Background
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources

Online Resources

History

A directory is defined as a “book containing names, addresses, and occupations of inhabitants. Several types of directories have been published in the United States over the last two hundred years including: city directories, telephone directories, county and regional business directories, professional, organizational, and religious directories, post office directories, and street directories. Directories have tremendous value to genealogists as both an original record and as a reference aid.

For further information about directories in general, see United States Directories.

Resources for Montana Directories

Libraries and Archives

The Montana Historical Society, Montana State University, and the University of Montana have some of the finest collections of Montana directories in the state.

Business Directories

  • 1868. Maguire, H.N. Historical Sketch and Essay on the Resources of Montana: Including a Business Directory of the Metropolis. Helena: Herald Book and Job Printing office, 1868. FS Library film 1377090. Digital version at Google Books.
  • 1867, 1871-73, 1876-78. Langley, Henry G. comp. The Pacific Coast Business Directory: Containing the Name and Post Office Address of Each Merchant, Manufacturer and Professional Residing in the States of California, Oregon, and Nevada; the Territories of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Arizona and Alaska; and the Colony of British Columbia. Also, a Gazetteer of the Counties, Cities and Towns, and an Exhibit of the Resources of the Pacific Coast. San Francisco: Henry G. Langley, 1871. FS Library film 1004513 item 3. Digital version at Internet Archive.
  • 1879. Warner, Frank W. Montana Territory: History and business directory, 1879 ... Distances, fares, and altitudes, counties, towns, mining camps, commercial, mineral and agricultural interests, with a sketch of the Vigilantes. Helena: Fisk Bros., printers, [1879]. FS Library film 1377090.
  • 1880-81 1883-84, 1886-87. McKenney, L.M. Pacific Coast Directory. Containing names, business and address of merchants, manufacturers and professional men; county, city, state, territorial and federal officers, and notaries public, of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia. Together with a sketch of the different cities and towns, giving description, means of support, population, Etc. San Francisco, California: L.M. McKenney & Co., 1880. FS Library film 1004517. Digital version at Internet Archive.
  • 1883. Steel & Co. 1883-4 Montana Advertising Directory, containing a complete list of the tax-payers of Montana, showing their address and occupation, arranged alphabetically according to counties; with a directory of federal, territorial and county officers compiled from the returns of 1883. Helena: Geo. E. Boos & Co., 1883. FS Library film 1697991 item 4. Digital version at Internet Archive.
  • 1914. R.L. Polk and Company. Northwestern Gazetteer: Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Montana--Gazetteer and Business Directory. St. Paul: R.L. Polk, 1914. FS Library films 1321220-221.

Directories Online

FamilySearch Library

The FamilySearch Library has city directories for various years from throughout the state of Montana including:

Billings

1901-1935 FamilySearch Library microfilm 1843771-1843775

1955, 1961, 1978 etc. FamilySearch Library book 978.639 E4p

Helena

1889-1901 FamilySearch Library microfilm 2156797-2156800

1902-1935 FamilySearch Library microfilm 2309341-2309347

1929, 1937, 1961 etc. FamilySearch Library book 978.66 E4p

Kalispell

1903-1934 FamilySearch Library microfilm 2309348-2309350

1955, 1961, 1980 etc. FamilySearch Library book 978.682 E4p

To find directories, consult the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under:

MONTANA, [COUNTY] — DIRECTORIES
MONTANA, [COUNTY], [TOWN] — DIRECTORIES
==Websites==