United States Directories: Difference between revisions

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=== Why were Directories Created  ===
== Why were Directories Created  ==


Directories were created for salesmen, merchants, and other interested in contacting residents of an area. They are arranged alphabetically giving lists of names and addresses. These often list the adult residents of a city or area.  
Directories were created for salesmen, merchants, and other interested in contacting residents of an area. They are arranged alphabetically giving lists of names and addresses. These often list the adult residents of a city or area.  
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Read an excellent article about directories on the [http://www.nypl.org/blog/2012/06/08/direct-me-1786-history-city-directories-US-NYC New York Public Library blog].  
Read an excellent article about directories on the [http://www.nypl.org/blog/2012/06/08/direct-me-1786-history-city-directories-US-NYC New York Public Library blog].  


=== 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.  
Line 25: Line 25:
*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).  
Line 42: Line 42:
*Death date.
*Death date.


=== Availability  ===
== Availability  ==


Time Period of availability: Directories have been published usually annually (yearly) since the early 1800's. City and county directories are similar to present day telephone  books and are useful records for locating people.  
Time Period of availability: Directories have been published usually annually (yearly) since the early 1800's. City and county directories are similar to present day telephone  books and are useful records for locating people.  
Line 48: Line 48:
Local public and university libraries generally have directories for their region. The Library of Congress has the largest collection of city and county directories.  
Local public and university libraries generally have directories for their region. The Library of Congress has the largest collection of city and county directories.  


=== Locating Directories  ===
== Locating Directories  ==


'''City Directories on the Web'''
===City Directories on the Web===


*[http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2469 Ancestry] - $, [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2469 free at FamilySearch Centers,] 1821-1989, dates vary by location, incomplete  
*[http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2469 Ancestry] - $, [http://search.ancestryinstitution.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2469 free at FamilySearch Centers,] 1821-1989, dates vary by location, incomplete  
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*[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>


'''Finding Aids'''
===Finding Aids===


*''City Directories of the United States.'' New Haven: Research Publications, Inc. 1971-  
*''City Directories of the United States.'' New Haven: Research Publications, Inc. 1971-  
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*[https://search.findmypast.ie/search-world-Records/united-states-directories-and-almanacs United States Directories & Almanacs] at findmypast, Index.
*[https://search.findmypast.ie/search-world-Records/united-states-directories-and-almanacs United States Directories & Almanacs] at findmypast, Index.


'''Directories at the Family History Library'''
=== Directories at the Family History Library ===


The '''Family History Library '''has a comprehensive collection, City Directories of the United States, reproduced on microform by Research Publications. This includes 336 cities and regions from the late 1700s to 1935. The pre-1860 city directories are on more than 6,000 microfiche. Directories for 1861 to 1935 are on 1,118 microfilms. These and other directories are listed in the Place Search of the [[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Catalog]] under  
The '''Family History Library '''has a comprehensive collection, City Directories of the United States, reproduced on microform by Research Publications. This includes 336 cities and regions from the late 1700s to 1935. The pre-1860 city directories are on more than 6,000 microfiche. Directories for 1861 to 1935 are on 1,118 microfilms. These and other directories are listed in the Place Search of the [[Introduction to the FamilySearch Catalog|FamilySearch Catalog]] under  
Line 81: Line 81:
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.


=== <center>Directories by State</center> ===
== Directories by State  ==
<center>
 
{|  
{|  
|-
|-
<ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right:5px;">  
<ul class="column-spacing-fullscreen" style="padding-right:5px;">  
| valign="top" align="left" |
   <li>[[Alabama Directories|Alabama]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Alabama flag.png|border|22x15px|Alabama flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Alabama Directories|Alabama]]</li>  
   <li>[[Alaska Directories|Alaska]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Alaska flag.png|border|22x15px|Alaska flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Alaska Directories|Alaska]]</li>
   <li>[[Arizona Directories|Arizona]]</li>
   <li>[[Image:Arizona flag.png|border|22x15px|Arizona flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Arizona Directories|Arizona]]</li>
   <li>[[Arkansas Directories|Arkansas]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Arkansas flag.png|border|22x15px|Arkansas flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Arkansas Directories|Arkansas]]</li>
   <li>[[California Directories|California]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:California flag.png|border|22x15px|California flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[California Directories|California]]</li>
   <li>[[Colorado Directories|Colorado]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Colorado flag.png|border|22x15px|Colorado flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Colorado Directories|Colorado]]</li>
   <li>[[Connecticut Directories|Connecticut]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Connecticut flag.png|border|22x13px|Connecticut flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Connecticut Directories|Connecticut]]</li>
   <li>[[Delaware Directories|Delaware]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Delaware flag.png|border|22x15px|Delaware flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Delaware Directories|Delaware]]</li>
   <li>[[District of Columbia Directories|District of Columbia]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:District of Columbia flag.png|border|22x11px|District of Columbia flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[District of Columbia Directories|District of Columbia]]</li>
   <li>[[Florida Directories|Florida]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Florida flag.png|border|22x15px|Florida flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Florida Directories|Florida]]</li>
   <li>[[Georgia Directories|Georgia]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Georgia flag.png|border|22x14px|Georgia flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Georgia Directories|Georgia]]</li>
   <li>[[Hawaii Directories|Hawaii]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Hawaii flag.png|border|22x11px|Hawaii flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Hawaii Directories|Hawaii]]</li>  
   <li>[[Idaho Directories|Idaho]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Idaho flag.png|border|22x18px|Idaho flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Idaho Directories|Idaho]]</li>
   <li>[[Illinois Directories|Illinois]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Illinois flag.png|border|22x13px|Illinois flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Illinois Directories|Illinois]]</li>
   <li>[[Indiana Directories|Indiana]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Indiana flag.png|border|22x15px|Indiana flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Indiana Directories|Indiana]]</li>
   <li>[[Iowa Directories|Iowa]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Iowa flag.png|border|22x15px|Iowa flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Iowa Directories|Iowa]]</li>
   <li>[[Kansas Directories|Kansas]]</li>
   <li>[[Image:Kansas flag.png|border|22x13px|Kansas flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Kansas Directories|Kansas]]</li>  
   <li>[[Kentucky Directories|Kentucky]]</li>
 
   <li>[[Louisiana Directories|Louisiana]]</li>  
| valign="top" align="left" |
   <li>[[Maine Directories|Maine]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Kentucky flag.png|border|22x15px|Kentucky flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Kentucky Directories|Kentucky]]</li>
   <li>[[Maryland Directories|Maryland]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Louisiana flag.png|border|22x15px|Louisiana flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Louisiana Directories|Louisiana]]</li>
   <li>[[Massachusetts Directories|Massachusetts]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Maine flag.png|border|22x15px|Maine flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Maine Directories|Maine]]</li>
   <li>[[Michigan Directories|Michigan]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Maryland flag.png|border|22x15px|Maryland flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Maryland Directories|Maryland]]</li>
   <li>[[Minnesota Directories|Minnesota]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Massachusetts flag.png|border|22x13px|Massachusetts flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Massachusetts Directories|Massachusetts]]</li>
   <li>[[Mississippi Directories|Mississippi]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Michigan flag.png|border|22x15px|Michigan flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Michigan Directories|Michigan]]</li>
   <li>[[Missouri Directories|Missouri]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Minnesota flag.png|border|22x14px|Minnesota flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Minnesota Directories|Minnesota]]</li>
   <li>[[Montana Directories|Montana]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Mississippi flag.png|border|22x13px|Mississippi flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Mississippi Directories|Mississippi]]</li>
   <li>[[Nebraska Directories|Nebraska]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Missouri flag.png|border|22x13px|Missouri flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Missouri Directories|Missouri]]</li>
   <li>[[Nevada Directories|Nevada]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Montana flag.png|border|22x15px|Montana flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Montana Directories|Montana]]</li>
   <li>[[New Hampshire Directories|New Hampshire]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Nebraska flag.png|border|22x13px|Nebraska flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Nebraska Directories|Nebraska]]</li>
   <li>[[New Jersey Directories|New Jersey]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Nevada flag.png|border|22x15px|Nevada flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Nevada Directories|Nevada]]</li>
   <li>[[New Mexico Directories|New Mexico]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:New Hampshire flag.png|border|22x15px|New Hampshire flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[New Hampshire Directories|New Hampshire]]</li>
   <li>[[New York Directories|New York]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:New Jersey flag.png|border|22x15px|New Jersey flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[New Jersey Directories|New Jersey]]</li>
   <li>[[North Carolina Directories|North Carolina]]</li>
   <li>[[Image:New Mexico flag.png|border|22x15px|New Mexico flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[New Mexico Directories|New Mexico]]</li>
   <li>[[North Dakota Directories|North Dakota]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:New York flag.png|border|22x11px|New York flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[New York Directories|New York]]</li>
   <li>[[Ohio Directories|Ohio]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:North Carolina flag.png|border|22x15px|North Carolina flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[North Carolina Directories|North Carolina]]</li>  
   <li>[[Oklahoma Directories|Oklahoma]]</li>  
 
   <li>[[Oregon Directories|Oregon]]</li>  
| valign="top" align="left" |
   <li>[[Pennsylvania Directories|Pennsylvania]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:North Dakota flag.png|border|22x17px|North Dakota flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[North Dakota Directories|North Dakota]]</li>
   <li>[[Rhode Island Directories|Rhode Island]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Ohio flag.png|border|22x14px|Ohio flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Ohio Directories|Ohio]]</li>
   <li>[[South Carolina Directories|South Carolina]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Oklahoma flag.png|border|22x15px|Oklahoma flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Oklahoma Directories|Oklahoma]]</li>
   <li>[[South Dakota Directories|South Dakota]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Oregon flag.png|border|22x13px|Oregon flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Oregon Directories|Oregon]]</li>
   <li>[[Tennessee Directories|Tennessee]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Pennsylvania flag.png|border|22x15px|Pennsylvania flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Pennsylvania Directories|Pennsylvania]]</li>
   <li>[[Texas Directories|Texas]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Rhode Island flag.png|border|21x20px|Rhode Island flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Rhode Island Directories|Rhode Island]]</li>
   <li>[[Utah Directories|Utah]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:South Carolina flag.png|border|22x15px|South Carolina flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[South Carolina Directories|South Carolina]]</li>
   <li>[[Vermont Directories|Vermont]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:South Dakota flag.png|border|22x13px|South Dakota flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[South Dakota Directories|South Dakota]]</li>
   <li>[[Virginia Directories|Virginia]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Tennessee flag.png|border|22x13px|Tennessee flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Tennessee Directories|Tennessee]]</li>
   <li>[[Washington Directories|Washington]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Texas flag.png|border|22x15px|Texas flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Texas Directories|Texas]]</li>
   <li>[[West Virginia Directories|West Virginia]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Utah flag.png|border|22x15px|Utah flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Utah Directories|Utah]]</li>
   <li>[[Wisconsin Directories|Wisconsin]]</li>  
   <li>[[Image:Vermont flag.png|border|22x13px|Vermont flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Vermont Directories|Vermont]]</li>
   <li>[[Wyoming Directories|Wyoming]]</li>
   <li>[[Image:Virginia flag.png|border|22x15px|Virginia flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Virginia Directories|Virginia]]</li>
   <li>[[Image:Washington flag.png|border|22x13px|Washington flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Washington Directories|Washington]]</li>
   <li>[[Image:West Virginia flag.png|border|22x12px|West Virginia flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[West Virginia Directories|West Virginia]]</li>
   <li>[[Image:Wisconsin flag.png|border|22x15px|Wisconsin flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Wisconsin Directories|Wisconsin]]</li>
   <li>[[Image:Wyoming flag.png|border|22x15px|Wyoming flag.png]]&nbsp;&nbsp;[[Wyoming Directories|Wyoming]]</li>  
</ul>
</ul>
|}
|}
</center>


=== 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.  
Line 152: Line 146:
*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).  
Line 164: Line 158:
*For blank forms you can use to extract information from a directory, click here:[http://web.archive.org/web/20070701140857/http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/localhistory/directory_form.pdf]
*For blank forms you can use to extract information from a directory, click here:[http://web.archive.org/web/20070701140857/http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/localhistory/directory_form.pdf]


=== 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 locate church records to search for an ancestor, use directories to find addresses of churches near your ancestor’s residence.  
*To locate 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!

Revision as of 12:18, 26 November 2019

United States Wiki Topics
How do I research United States Directories?
Beginning Research
Record Types
United States Background
Cultural Groups
Local Research Resources


Why were Directories Created[edit | edit source]

Directories were created for salesmen, merchants, and other interested in contacting residents of an area. They are arranged alphabetically giving lists of names and addresses. These often list the adult residents of a city or area.

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.

Read an excellent article about directories on the New York Public Library blog.

Why Use Directories[edit | edit source]

  • 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.
  • Learn the exact years your ancestor inhabited a place.
  • Locate ancestor in a census that hasn’t been indexed (esp. state census).
  • Estimate year of immigration.
  • Learn occupation and employer as identifiers
  • Find other family members.

Potential Content[edit | edit source]

  • An alphabetical listing of inhabitants (arranged by name, address, and occupation).
  • A street address listing (arranged by address, name, and occupation).
  • Widows, working women, and adult children at home.
  • Ward maps.
  • Street locator, including cross streets.
  • Street name changes.
  • Removals (sometimes destinations!).
  • Businesses (and index to advertisers).
  • Addresses and maps of churches, schools, funeral homes, cemeteries, post offices, courts, hospitals, benevolent associations, newspapers.
  • Many early directories listed only businesspeople.
  • Some directories list wife in parenthesis.
  • Whether a woman is a widow (including name of husband).
  • List of marriages and deaths of previous year.
  • Death date.

Availability[edit | edit source]

Time Period of availability: Directories have been published usually annually (yearly) since the early 1800's. City and county directories are similar to present day telephone  books and are useful records for locating people.

Local public and university libraries generally have directories for their region. The Library of Congress has the largest collection of city and county directories.

Locating Directories[edit | edit source]

City Directories on the Web[edit | edit source]

Finding Aids[edit | edit source]

  • City Directories of the United States. New Haven: Research Publications, Inc. 1971-
  • City Directories of the United States, 1860-1901: Guide to the Microfilm Collection. Woodbridge, CT: Research Publications, 1983
  • Spear, Dorothea N. Bibliography of American Directories Through 1860. Worcester, Mass.: American Antiquarian Society, 1961.
  • United States Directories & Almanacs at findmypast, Index.

Directories at the Family History Library[edit | edit source]

The Family History Library has a comprehensive collection, City Directories of the United States, reproduced on microform by Research Publications. This includes 336 cities and regions from the late 1700s to 1935. The pre-1860 city directories are on more than 6,000 microfiche. Directories for 1861 to 1935 are on 1,118 microfilms. These and other directories are listed in the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under

[STATE], [COUNTY], [TOWN] - DIRECTORIESFamilySearch Catalog U.S. City Directories, 1795-1860 Microfiche 6013501-6044684

You can find further information about city directories in FamilySearch Wiki pages regarding each state. For example, search Ohio directories for information about directories of Ohio.

Some directories list only certain types of businesses, professionals, clergymen, alumni, or other special groups. These are listed in the Place Search of the FamilySearch Catalog under:

[STATE] - DIRECTORIES
[STATE] - OCCUPATIONS
[STATE], [COUNTY] - DIRECTORIES
[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.

Directories by State[edit | edit source]

Search Steps[edit | edit source]

  • Check the beginning of the directory for cutoff dates, geographical coverage, and the meaning of abbreviations.
  • Check alphabetical listing or residents to find known ancestors.
  • 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[edit | edit source]

  • Directories list occupants (not necessarily owners).
  • Major cities: Check town or county histories for outlying towns later absorbed by a city.
  • Minorities were often listed separately.
  • 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.
  • 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!
  • 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, click here:[1]

What to Do Next[edit | edit source]

Directories serve as springboards to other records:

Church records[edit | edit source]

  • To locate 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.

Land records[edit | edit source]

  • Directory listings often mention whether the resident is an owner, renter, or boarder. If owner, see land records!

Works Referenced[edit | edit source]

v • d• e
Links to United States-related articles
Topics
States
Territories
Major
Repositories
Migration
Routes

Family History Library (FHL); now called, FamilySearch Library (FSL)

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