Chicago city directories cover the years 1839-1928, with a few gaps, most of which come after 1917. With a few exceptions, they generally included heads of household (including widows) and individuals who were working. Front matter generally included lists of government offices, churches, and civic organizations, and back matter included business listings.
Chicago directories can be found online at Footnote.com (subscription site) and ChicagoAncestors.org (click on the "Tools" tab to access the directories). They can also be found on Family History Library microfilm and at many research facilities in the Chicago area.
- <a href="http://distantcousin.com/Directories/IL/Chicago/1844/">1844</a> and <a href="http://distantcousin.com/Directories/IL/Chicago/1855_6/">1855/56</a> Chicago City Directories (at CousinConnect.com; other Illinois cities also available)
- <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=EugCAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#PPA3,M1">1856</a> Chicago City Directory and Business Advertiser , Fergus, May Supplement (at Google Books; searchable by address)
- <a href="http://chicagoancestors.org/downloads/1866front.pdf">1866</a> Chicago City Directory (PDF at www.chicagoancestors.org)
- <a href="http://chicagoancestors.org/downloads/1870front.pdf">1870</a> Chicago City Directory (PDF at www.chicagoancestors.org)
- <a href="http://chicagoancestors.org/downloads/1871a.pdf">1871</a> Chicago City Directory (PDF at www.chicagoancestors.org)
- <a href="http://chicagoancestors.org/downloads/1880front.pdf">1880</a> Chicago City Directory (PDF at www.chicagoancestors.org)
- <a href="http://chicagoancestors.org/downloads/1885front.pdf">1885</a> Chicago City Directory (PDF at www.chicagoancestors.org)
- <a href="http://chicagoancestors.org/downloads/1892front.pdf">1892</a> Chicago City Directory (PDF at www.chicagoancestors.org)
- <a href="http://chicagoancestors.org/downloads/1900front.pdf">1900</a> Chicago City Directory (PDF at www.chicagoancestors.org)
- The Chicago Daily News Almanac and Year-Book, 1905 (p. 446-454 "Old Residents of Chicago" arranged by year of arrival; at Google Books; searchable by address)
- <a href="http://chicagoancestors.org/downloads/1910front.pdf">1910</a> Chicago City Directory (PDF at www.chicagoancestors.org)
- <a href="http://www.chsmedia.org/househistory/polk/start.pdf">1928/29</a> Polk's Directory (by street address; PDF Chicago History Museum website; loads slowly)