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A run of directories will show changes in the name of a business, its address and activities, perhaps indicating when it was formed, the dissolution of a partnership or a bankruptcy, any of which may suggest a search in ''The London Gazette''. For many businesses, however, the directory entry will be its only surviving record. An advertisement in a directory may give more detail about the actual business carried on, sometimes even picturing the premises and examples of its products. The directory may have a separate index to these, usually in the prefatory material. | A run of directories will show changes in the name of a business, its address and activities, perhaps indicating when it was formed, the dissolution of a partnership or a bankruptcy, any of which may suggest a search in ''The London Gazette''. For many businesses, however, the directory entry will be its only surviving record. An advertisement in a directory may give more detail about the actual business carried on, sometimes even picturing the premises and examples of its products. The directory may have a separate index to these, usually in the prefatory material. | ||
Directories have been used extensively in the compilation of such works as Maurice Packer's ''Bookbinders of Victorian London 1837-1901'' (1991) ( | Directories have been used extensively in the compilation of such works as Maurice Packer's ''Bookbinders of Victorian London 1837-1901'' (1991) (FS Library book 942.1/L1 U2pm, BYU L. Tom Perry Special Collections book '''Z 270 .E5 P324x 1991g'''), Geoffrey Beard and Christopher Gilbert's ''Dictionary of English Furniture Makers 1660-1840'' (1986) (FS Library book 942 U26de, BYU HBLL book '''NK 2528 .D54x 1986'''), and Michael Pritchard's ''A Directory of London Photographers 1841-1908'' (1994) (FS Library book 942.1/L1 U2pd). Photographs that bear the name of a photographer may be dated from the lists of photographers in directories. Other items that bear tradesmen's marks or labels may be similarly dated. | ||
Before the compilation of the national computerised indexes to census returns, directories were collected in order to help identify households in the returns. Directories may still be used to check the name of the occupant of a particular address, or to assess the completeness or otherwise of the census entries in a named street. | Before the compilation of the national computerised indexes to census returns, directories were collected in order to help identify households in the returns. Directories may still be used to check the name of the occupant of a particular address, or to assess the completeness or otherwise of the census entries in a named street. | ||
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Another firm taken over by Kelly at the end of the 19th century was that founded by William White. White had himself taken over several directories that were appearing in the north in the 1820s, including that published by the historian Edward Baines for Leeds. He then extended his activities to other counties, attaching great importance to historical and scientific information. He inconveniently arranged the parish entries according to their Hundred, but his green-bound directories were very popular. In 1854 his Norfolk directory for 1845 was pirated by a rival, Francis White, whose work is generally far less competent. | Another firm taken over by Kelly at the end of the 19th century was that founded by William White. White had himself taken over several directories that were appearing in the north in the 1820s, including that published by the historian Edward Baines for Leeds. He then extended his activities to other counties, attaching great importance to historical and scientific information. He inconveniently arranged the parish entries according to their Hundred, but his green-bound directories were very popular. In 1854 his Norfolk directory for 1845 was pirated by a rival, Francis White, whose work is generally far less competent. | ||
In the late 19th century specialist directories began to appear. Those that survived a number of years, such as Kelly's ''Directory of Chemists and Druggists'', 1869-1916, and Simpkin Kent's ''The Soap Makers Directory of Great Britain'', 1888-1955, are listed in ''Occupational Sources for Genealogists'' by Stuart Raymond (Federation of Family History Societies, 2nd ed. 1996) [ | In the late 19th century specialist directories began to appear. Those that survived a number of years, such as Kelly's ''Directory of Chemists and Druggists'', 1869-1916, and Simpkin Kent's ''The Soap Makers Directory of Great Britain'', 1888-1955, are listed in ''Occupational Sources for Genealogists'' by Stuart Raymond (Federation of Family History Societies, 2nd ed. 1996) [FS Library book 942 U23rs]. | ||
=== How Directories were Compiled === | === How Directories were Compiled === | ||
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A free digital library of local and trade directories for England and Wales, 1750-1919, has been placed online by the University of Leicester. The library seeks to provide at least one directory for each decade in the 1850s, 1890s and 1910s, but there are samples from years throughout the above period, with in depth coverage for Leicestershire and substantial coverage for London and Wales. Any maps in these directories have not been digitised. Visit [http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16445coll4 Historical Directories of England & Wales] or [http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/cdm/map/collection/p16445coll4 Map]. | A free digital library of local and trade directories for England and Wales, 1750-1919, has been placed online by the University of Leicester. The library seeks to provide at least one directory for each decade in the 1850s, 1890s and 1910s, but there are samples from years throughout the above period, with in depth coverage for Leicestershire and substantial coverage for London and Wales. Any maps in these directories have not been digitised. Visit [http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16445coll4 Historical Directories of England & Wales] or [http://specialcollections.le.ac.uk/cdm/map/collection/p16445coll4 Map]. | ||
Large collections of directories are also to be found at the Guildhall Library, London, and the Society of Genealogists. A catalogue of the latter has been printed as ''Directories and Poll Books in the Library of the Society of Genealogists'' (6th ed. 1995) [ | Large collections of directories are also to be found at the Guildhall Library, London, and the Society of Genealogists. A catalogue of the latter has been printed as ''Directories and Poll Books in the Library of the Society of Genealogists'' (6th ed. 1995) [FS Library book 942.1/L1 D23so]. There is a fine series of London directories on microfilm at the London Metropolitan Archives. | ||
To locate a volunteer who will search some directories for you free of charge, visit the [http://aztecrose.tripod.com/LookupExchange.htm England Lookup Exchange] and click on the county you need. | To locate a volunteer who will search some directories for you free of charge, visit the [http://aztecrose.tripod.com/LookupExchange.htm England Lookup Exchange] and click on the county you need. | ||
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== Bibliography == | == Bibliography == | ||
Jane Elizabeth Norton, ''Guide to the National and Provincial Directories of England and Wales, excluding London, published before 1856 ''(Royal Historical Society, 1950) [ | Jane Elizabeth Norton, ''Guide to the National and Provincial Directories of England and Wales, excluding London, published before 1856 ''(Royal Historical Society, 1950) [FS Library book 942 C4rg].<br>Gareth Shaw and Alison Tipper,''British Directories: a bibliography and guide to directories published in England and Wales (1850-1950) and Scotland (1773-1950)'' (Leicester University Press, 1989) [FS Library book 942 E43s].<br>Ian Maxted, ''The British National Directories 1781-1819'' (Exeter, 1989) [not in FHL].<br>P.J. Atkins, ''The Directories of London 1677-1977 ''(New York, 1990) [FS Library book 942.1/L1 E43a]. | ||
[Adapted from Anthony Camp's article 'The history and value of genealogical records: all about directories' in ''Practical Family History'' (UK), no. 60 (December 2002) pages 23-25].<br> | [Adapted from Anthony Camp's article 'The history and value of genealogical records: all about directories' in ''Practical Family History'' (UK), no. 60 (December 2002) pages 23-25].<br> | ||
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