Directories on Microform
This article originally appeared in "Directories" by Gordon L. Remington, FASG, FUGA in The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy
The business directory, as a distinct entity, evolved partly from special sections in city directories and partly from the needs of people in sparsely populated rural areas to communicate their services to one another. Because the rural economy often centered on the county seat, these early business directories were usually organized by county or region. In addition to the names of farmers and businessmen, they contained advertisements of goods and services; although they were primarily business oriented, they also served as general directories in those rural areas. Much like a modern almanac, they often included other useful information.
A regional (multicounty, state, or market area) business directory combines a city directory's specialized business sections with a county directory's wide geographic market coverage. As communications developed, nineteenth-century manufacturers, farmers, and those with service-oriented businesses found that directories covering more than their own county were quite useful and even necessary. These regional business directories varied in comprehensiveness. The earlier ones, often called advertising directories, mentioned only those businesses that could afford to be included. By the late 1800s, however, statewide business directories listed nearly every place and a variety of businesses, from farms to pharmacies. County directories can also be found in nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century county histories and atlases.
Information obtained from county or regional business directories helps locate people in place and time. County business directories that include farmers, like city directories, narrow census searches to specific townships. This is especially useful when an ancestor married someone from another township in the same county and the marriage record doesn't state which township. Some county business directories also contain dates and places of birth, dates of marriage, length of residence in the town, names of children, and other biographical details on their subjects as well as names.
You can use regional business directories in the same way. A region can be defined as an entire state or a geographic area, such as a valley or a coast. If you know which state an ancestor lived in but not the exact place, regional directories can help, although they are less likely to give such extensive biographical information, and their coverage may be limited.
Contents
How to Use County and Regional Business Directories
The Gazetteer and Business Directory of Monroe County, New York for 1869'1870 is a typical county business directory. On the page displayed in the attached figure, the residents of the rural town of Henrietta are listed alphabetically. The information following each name, when properly interpreted, is very enlightening. For example, the entry for Alvy Remington indicates that his post office was in West Henrietta; thus, it was the closest settlement as well. His land was in lot 10, range 6, according to the survey of the land company that originally owned the land. By occupation he was a farmer and owned ninety-five acres. If he had leased his land, this also would have been indicated.
There are three other Remingtons in Henrietta in this directory: George T., Seth W., and William T. Without knowing anything about the family, one could conclude that there is some relationship between Alvy, Seth, and William on the basis of the lot and range information. In fact, William and Seth were Alvah (the correct spelling) Remington's sons. William had fifty-seven acres, the directory tells us, while Seth had only one. A bit of family history provides a gloss on the directory information. Thomas Remington, Alvah's father, originally purchased lot 10, range 6, in the 1820s from a consortium of Dutch land speculators. Alvah bought out his brothers and sisters then distributed the land among his own children. The fact that Seth had only one acre in 1870 helps explain the relationship between father and son: when Alvah died in 1888, he left nothing to Seth's children because Seth had been unable to pay back a debt to his father before he had died in 1885.
One of the earliest regional directories is The American Advertising Directory: Manufacturers and Dealers in American Goods for the Year 1831. Most of the listings are in the Northeast manufacturing area, but places as far (in 1831) from the East Coast as Nashville, Tennessee, had at least one listing. This contrasts starkly with the New Mexico Business Directory for 1907'8, which mentions every city, town, and village in New Mexico as well as El Paso, Texas, and Denver, Colorado. The town of Central had 450 inhabitants, but only fifteen entries were given:
- CENTRAL
- Postoffice and important town in Grant county, 9 miles east of Silver City, the most convenient railroad point. :Mining, stockraising, farming and fruitgrowing the principal industries. Population 450.
- Bayard Smelting & Mining Co, W D Murray mgr.
- Crowley J, postmaster, justice peace, drugs.
- Bold textGOULD BROS, general merchandise.
- Hamilton A, mines and mining
- Helde Mrs. G W, millinery and dressmaker.
- Link B T, fruitgrower and dairy.
- McMillen Geo, mines and mining.
- MURRAY BROS, general merchandise.
- MONTGOMERY & DALRYMPLE, meat market.
- Reed Mrs W, restaurant.
- Rendall L G, notary public.
- Rodgers Clark, fruitgrower.
- Stephens Chas, fruitgrower.
- SWEENEY W H, general merchandise.
- Wiley J A, saloon.<ref>New Mexico Business Directory . . . 1907'1908 (Denver: Gazetteer Publishing Co., 1907), 217.</ref>
Note that the postmaster was also the justice of the peace and pharmacist for the town. The directory does not list the men who worked on the fruit farms and in the mines. This 1912 directory is, however, more detailed and for a smaller region than the 1831 directory cited previously.
List of Directories on Microform
This table serves two purposes. The first is to list those cities in each state for which Research Publications has microform directories and for which years. Please note that some years within date ranges may not be available and that other years not represented in this table may now be available. Check with your library or archive for the most up-to-date information.
The second purpose is to show compatibility with the 1910 census by showing whether Soundex or Miracode indexes exist for a city or if there is an enumeration district map or street index for a city. Those cities and states that are not included in the Research Publications microform series, but for which 1910 finding aids exist, are bracketed.
|District of Columbia:| State/City | Date/1910 Census Compatibility | |
| Alabama: | Soundex (entire state) | |
| Birmingham | 1902'35/Soundex (Alabama Cities) | |
| Greene County | 1855/56, 1862'1935 | |
| Mobile | 1837'1935/Soundex (Alabama Cities) | |
| Montgomery | 1880'1935/Soundex (Alabama Cities) | |
| Arizona: | ||
| Phoenix | 1903'35/Street Index | |
| Tucson | 1902'35 | |
| Arkansas: | Miracode (entire state) | |
| Little Rock | 1871'1901 | |
| Texarkana | 1904'34 | |
| California: | Miracode (entire state) | |
| Bakersfield | 1915'35 | |
| Fresno | 1926'35 | |
| Long Beach | 1907'35/Street Index | |
| Los Angeles | 1873'1935/Street Index | |
| Marysville | 1853'58 | |
| Nevada City | 1856 | |
| Oakland | 1869'81, 1902'35 | |
| Sacramento | 1851'81, 1902'35 | |
| San Diego | 1903'35/Street Index | |
| San Francisco | 1850'1934/Street Index | |
| Stockton | 1852'56, 1902'35 | |
| Tuolumne Co. | 1856 | |
| Colorado: | ||
| Colorado Springs | 1902'35 | |
| Denver | 1859'1935/Street Index | |
| Grand Junction | 1902'35 | |
| Leadville | 1882'1903, 1905'11 | |
| Connecticut: | ||
| Regional | 1849'58 | |
| Ansonia | 1902'35 | |
| Bristol | 1902'35 | |
| Bridgeport | 1855'81, 1902'35/Enumeration District Map | |
| Danbury | 1882'1935 | |
| Hartford | 1799'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Meriden | 1872'81 | |
| Middletown | 1868'1931 | |
| New Haven | 1840'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| New London | 1855'60, 1902'35 | |
| Norwich | 1846'1935 | |
| Stamford | 1882'1933 | |
| Southington | 1882'1935 | |
| [Waterbury] | Enumeration District Map | |
| Delaware: | ||
| Regional | 1859/60 | |
| Wilmington | 1814'1935 | |
| Washington | 1822'1935/Street Index | |
| Florida: | Miracode (entire state) | |
| Jacksonville | 1902'35 | |
| Miami | 1916'35 | |
| Orlando | 1902'35 | |
| Pensacola | 1903'34 | |
| St. Petersburg | 1914'35 | |
| Tampa | 1903'35/Street Index | |
| Georgia: | Soundex (entire state) | |
| Regional | 1850 | |
| Atlanta | 1859'1935/Soundex (Georgia Cities)/Street Index | |
| Augusta | 1841'59/Soundex (Georgia Cities) | |
| Columbus | 1859/60, 1906'34 | |
| Savannah | 1848'1934/Soundex (Georgia Cities) | |
| Hawaii: | AISI Index | |
| Honolulu | 1902'36 | |
| Idaho: | Idaho G.S. Index | |
| Boise | 1901'35 | |
| Pocatello | 1902'35 | |
| Illinois: | Miracode (entire state) | |
| Regional | 1847'60 | |
| Alton | 1858 | |
| Belleville | 1860, 1901'35 | |
| Bureau County | 1858/59 | |
| Chicago | 1839'1929/Street Index | |
| Evanston | 1902'35 | |
| Galena | 1854'59 | |
| Joliet | 1872'1935 | |
| Kane County | 1857'60 | |
| Moline | 1855'59, 1901'35 | |
| Peoria | 1844'1935/Street Index | |
| Quincy | 1855'60 | |
| Randolph County | ||
| Rockford | 1857'60, 1902'35 | |
| Rock Island | 1855'59, 1902'35 | |
| Springfield | 1855'60, 1901'35 | |
| Will County | 1859/60 | |
| Indiana: | ||
| Regional | 1858'61 | |
| Evansville | 1858'1934/Enumeration District Map | |
| Fort Wayne | 1858'81, 1902'35/Street Index | |
| Gary | 1908'35/Street Index | |
| Indianapolis | 1855'1935/Street Index | |
| Jefferson County | 1859 | |
| Lafayette | 1858'59, 1901'35 | |
| Lawrenceburg | 1859/60 | |
| Logansport | 1859/60 | |
| Madison | 1859'60 | |
| New Albany | 1856'60, 1903'36 | |
| Richmond | 1857'61, 1901'35 | |
| Shelbyville | 1860/61 | |
| [South Bend] | Street Index | |
| Terre Haute | 1858'60/Enumeration District Map | |
| Iowa: | ||
| Regional/State | 1846, 1902'23 | |
| Burlington | 1856'59, 1902'35 | |
| Davenport | 1853'81 | |
| Des Moines | 1866'1935/Enumeration District Map/Street Index (FHL) | |
| Dubuque | 1856'1929 | |
| Henry County | 1859/60 | |
| Iowa City | 1857, 1919'34 | |
| Keokuk | 1854'60 | |
| Muscatine | 1856'60 | |
| Sioux City | 1884'1935 | |
| Kansas: | Miracode (entire state) | |
| Atchison | 1859'61 | |
| Emporia | 1902'35 | |
| [Kansas City] | Street Index | |
| Leavenwoth | 1860'61, 1902'34 | |
| Ottawa | 1903'33 | |
| Topeka | 1868'80, 1902'35 | |
| [Wichita] | Street Index | |
| Kentucky: | Miracode (entire state) | |
| Regional | 1859/60 | |
| Covington | 1861'87, 1902'32 | |
| Lexington | 1806'82, 1902'35 | |
| Louisville | 1832'1935 | |
| Louisiana: | Soundex (entire state) | |
| New Orleans | 1805'1935/Miracode (Louisiana Cities) | |
| Maine: | ||
| Regional | 1849'56 | |
| Augusta | 1861'82, 1886'89, 1892'98, 1902'35 | |
| Bangor | 1834'59 | |
| Biddeford | 1856'57, 1902'34 | |
| Portland | 1823'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Saco | 1849, 1902'34 (with Biddeford) | |
| Westbrook | 1902'34 | |
| Maryland: | ||
| Baltimore | 1752/1796'1930/Street Index | |
| Frederick | 1859/60 | |
| Massachusetts: | ||
| Regional | 1849'59 | |
| Boston | 1789'1935/Enumeration District Map/Street Index (FHL) | |
| Brockton | 1874'80, 1882'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Brighton | 1850 | |
| Brookline | 1868'81 | |
| Cambridge | 1847'1931/Enumeration District Map | |
| Charlestown | 1831'74 | |
| Chelsea | 1847'80, 1902'35 | |
| Clinton | 1856, 1902'35 | |
| Dorchester | 1850 | |
| East Boston | 1848'52 | |
| Fall River | 1853'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Fitchburg | 1847'60 | |
| Gloucester | 1860, 1882'1935 | |
| Haverhill | 1853'61, 1902'35 | |
| Holyoke | 1882'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Lawrence | 1847'61/Enumeration District Map | |
| Leominster | 1882'1935 | |
| Lowell | 1832'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Lunenburg | 1834 | |
| Lynn | 1832'80, 1902'35/Enumeration District Map | |
| Malden | 1868'81 | |
| Medford | 1849, 1902'30 | |
| Milford | 1856, 1901'34 | |
| New Bedford | 1836'82, 1902'34/Enumeration District Map | |
| Newburyport | 1849'60, 1902'36 | |
| Pittsfield | 1859/60 | |
| Plymouth | 1846'60 | |
| Quincy | 1868'81 | |
| Roxbury | 1847'60 | |
| Salem | 1837'81, 1902'35 | |
| Somerville | 1851/Enumeration District Map | |
| South Boston | 1852 | |
| Southbridge | 1854 | |
| Springfield | 1845'81/Enumeration District Map | |
| Taunton | 1850'59, 1902'35 | |
| Woburn | 1868'77 | |
| Worcester | 1828'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Michigan: | Miracode (entire state) | |
| Regional | 1856'60 | |
| Ann Arbor | 1902'35 | |
| Battle Creek | 1901'35 | |
| Coldwater | 1902'23 | |
| Detroit | 1837'1934/Street Index | |
| Grand Rapids | 1856'1935/Street Index | |
| Kalamazoo | 1902'35 | |
| Petoskey | 1903'35 | |
| Minnesota: | ||
| Duluth | 1881'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Minneapolis | 1865'1935/Enumeration District Map/Street Index (FHL) | |
| St. Anthony | 1859/60 | |
| St. Paul | 1856'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Mississippi: | Soundex (entire state) | |
| Jackson | 1860 | |
| Vicksburg | 1860 | |
| Missouri: | Miracode (entire state) | |
| Regional | 1860 | |
| Kansas City | 1859'1921 | |
| St. Joseph | 1905'33 | |
| St. Louis | 1821'1935 | |
| Springfield | 1873, 1878, 1881, 1884, 1888, 1890+ **Available Online**: 1873[1]; 1878[2]; 1905[3] | |
| Montana: | ||
| Territory | 1868'80 | |
| Billings | 1902'35 | |
| Butte | 1902'34 | |
| Great Falls | 1903'35 | |
| Livingston | 1904'35 | |
| Nebraska: | ||
| Hastings | 1903'34 | |
| Omaha | 1866'1935/Street Index | |
| Nevada: | ||
| Territory | 1862'81 | |
| New Hampshire: | ||
| Regional | 1849 | |
| Concord | 1830'61, 1902'35 | |
| Dover | 1830'81, 1902'35 | |
| Great Falls | 1848 | |
| Keene | 1827'31, 1871'80, 1902'35 | |
| Manchester | 1844'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Nashua | 1841'82, 1902'35 | |
| New Ipswich | 1858 | |
| Peterborough | 1830 | |
| Portsmouth | 1817'61, 1903'34 | |
| New Jersey: | ||
| Regional | 1850/51 | |
| Atlantic City | 1902'35 | |
| [Bayonne] | Enumeration District Map | |
| Camden | 1860, 1863'1931/Enumeration District Map | |
| Elizabeth | 1865'1935/Street Index/Enumeration District Map | |
| Essex County | 1859 | |
| Hoboken | (with Jersey City Enumeration District Map) | |
| Jersey City | 1849'1901/Enumeration District Map | |
| Newark | 1835'1935/Street Index/Enumeration District Map | |
| New Brunswick | 1855'61 | |
| Passaic | Enumeration District Map | |
| Paterson | 1855'1935/Street Index/Enumeration District Map | |
| Trenton | 1844'81, 1902'35/Enumeration District Map | |
| New Mexico: | ||
| Albuquerque | 1905'35 | |
| New York: | ||
| Regional | 1850'59 | |
| Albany | 1813'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Auburn | 1857'60, 1861'81, 1902'35 | |
| Binghamton | 1857'60, 1909'24 | |
| [Bronx] | Street Index (w/Manhattan) | |
| Brooklyn | 1822'1934/Street Index | |
| Buffalo | 1828'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Cortland | 1902'35 | |
| Elmira | 1857'1935 | |
| Geneva | 1857, 1902'35 | |
| Greenpoint | 1854 | |
| Hudson | 1851'57, 1902'35 | |
| Ithaca | 1882'1901, 1903'35 | |
| Kingston | 1857'58, 1902'35 | |
| Long Island | check phase one | |
| Middletown | 1857/58, 1905'35 | |
| Morrisania | 1853 | |
| Newburgh | 1856'76, 1902'35 | |
| New York City | 1786'1934/Street Index (Manhattan) | |
| Ogdensburg | 1857 | |
| Oswego | 1852'59, 1902'35 | |
| Poughkeepsie | 1843'61, 1902'35 | |
| [Queens] | Street Index(FHL)/Enumeration District Map | |
| Rochester | 1827'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Rome | 1857'60, 1903'34 | |
| Schenectady | 1841'61, 1902'35/Enumeration District Map | |
| [Staten Island] | Street Index | |
| Syracuse | 1844'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Troy | 1829'1935 | |
| Utica | 1817'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Watertown | 1840'55 | |
| Westchester Co. | 1860/61 | |
| Williamsburg | 1847'54 | |
| Yonkers | 1859/60, 1902'31/Enumeration District Map | |
| North Carolina: | Miracode (entire state) | |
| Asheville | 1902'24 | |
| [Charlotte] | Street Index | |
| Greensboro | 1903'35 | |
| Raleigh | 1903'35 | |
| North Dakota: | ||
| Fargo | 1902'34 | |
| Ohio: | Miracode (entire state) | |
| Regional | 1853'61 | |
| Akron | 1859'60/Street Index | |
| [Canton] | Street Index | |
| Chillicothe | 1855'61, 1902'34 | |
| Cincinnati | 1819'1935/Street Index | |
| Circleville | 1859 | |
| Cleveland | 1837'1935 | |
| Columbus | 1843'1935 | |
| Dayton | 1850'1935/Street Index | |
| Delaware | 1859'60, 1902'35 | |
| Hamilton | 1858'59 | |
| Mansfield | 1858/59, 1902'35 | |
| Marietta | 1860/61, 1902'35 | |
| Mt. Vernon | 1858/59 | |
| Portsmouth | 1858'59, 1908'35 | |
| Sandusky | 1855'78, 1902'35 | |
| Springfield | 1852'60, 1902'35 | |
| Steubenville | 1856/57, 1902'35 | |
| Toledo | 1858'1935 | |
| [Youngstown] | Street Index | |
| Zanesville | 1851'61, 1902'36 | |
| Oklahoma: | Miracode (entire state) | |
| Enid | 1905'35 | |
| Oklahoma City | 1902'35/Street Index | |
| Tulsa | 1909'35/Street Index | |
| Oregon: | ||
| Astoria | 1902'34 | |
| Portland | 1863'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Pennsylvania: | Miracode (entire state) | |
| Regional | 1844'60 | |
| Carnegie | 1902'35 | |
| Chester | 1859/60, 1902'31 | |
| Erie | 1853'1935/Street Index | |
| Erie County | 1859/60 | |
| Harrisburg | 1839'1935 | |
| Lancaster | 1843'60, 1903'35 | |
| Lancaster Co. | 1843'60 | |
| Monongahela V. | 1859 | |
| Norristown | 1860/61, 1902'35 | |
| Philadelphia | 1785'1935/Miracode (City)/Street Index | |
| Pittsburgh | 1813'1935 | |
| Reading | 1806/56'1935/Street Index | |
| Scranton | 1861'1935 | |
| Wilkes'Barre | 1882'1919 | |
| Williamsport | 1866'1934 | |
| West Chester | 1857 | |
| Rhode Island: | ||
| Regional | 1849 | |
| East Providence | 1902'35 | |
| Newport | 1856'58 | |
| Pawtucket | 1857/58, 1867'81, 1886, 1880'35/Enumeration District Map | |
| Providence | 1824'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Westerly | 1884'86, 1888'90, 1892, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1900'35 | |
| South Carolina: | Soundex (entire state) | |
| Camden 1816/24 | ||
| Charleston | 1782'1935 | |
| Columbia | 1859'60, 1903'35 | |
| South Dakota: | ||
| Sioux Falls | 1902'35 | |
| Tennessee: | Soundex (entire state) | |
| Regional | 1860/61 | |
| Chattanooga | 1871'81, 1902'35/Soundex (Tennessee Cities) | |
| Clarksville | 1859/60 | |
| Knoxville | 1869'1935/Soundex (Tennessee Cities) | |
| Memphis | 1849'1935/Soundex (Tennessee Cities) | |
| Nashville | 1853'1935/Soundex (Tennessee Cities) | |
| Texas: | Soundex (entire state) | |
| Amarillo | 1903'35 | |
| Austin | 1857, 1903'35 | |
| Beaumont | 1903'35 | |
| Dallas | 1875'1935 | |
| Fort Worth | 1877'79, 1902'36 | |
| Galveston | 1856'1935 | |
| Houston | 1882'1935 | |
| San Antonio | 1877'1935/Street Index | |
| Waco | 1882'1934 | |
| Utah: | ||
| Logan | 1904'35 | |
| Ogden | 1882'1935 | |
| Salt Lake City | 1867'1935/Enumeration District Map/Street Index (FHL) | |
| Vermont: | ||
| Regional | 1849'60 | |
| Barre | 1902'35 | |
| Brattleboro | 1902'35 | |
| Burlington | 1865'1935 | |
| Virginia: | Soundex (entire state) | |
| Regional | 1852 | |
| Norfolk | 1801/51'1935 | |
| Petersburg | 1859, 1902'35 | |
| Richmond | 1819'1935/Street Index | |
| Wythe County | 1857 | |
| Washington: | ||
| Bellingham | 1902'35 | |
| Everett | 1902'35 | |
| Seattle | 1872'1935/Street Index | |
| [Spokane] | Enumeration District Map | |
| [Tacoma] | Enumeration District Map | |
| West Virginia: | Soundex (entire state) | |
| Clarksburg | 1905'35 | |
| Wheeling | 1839'1934 | |
| Wisconsin: | ||
| Regional | 1857'59 | |
| Appleton | 1882'1901, 1904'34 | |
| Beloit | 1858 | |
| Fond du Lac | 1857'57, 1903'34 | |
| Green Bay | 1903'29 | |
| Ganesville | 1858'60 | |
| Kenosha | 1858, 1903'35 | |
| Madison | 1851'81, 1903'35 | |
| Milwaukee | 1847'1935/Enumeration District Map | |
| Mineral Point | 1849 | |
| Oshkosh | 1857, 1861'81, 1903'28 | |
| Racine | 1850'59, 1902'35 | |
| Rock County | 1857'58 | |
| Watertown | 1902'35 | |
| Waukesha | 1858 | |
| Whitewater | 1858 | |
| Wyoming: | ||
| Laramie | 1908'35 | |
| Regional: | ||
| The East | 1846 | |
| Mississippi | 1844 | |
| New England | 1849'60 | |
| The South | 1854 | |
| The West | 1837 | |
| Western Reserve | 1852 |
Special Problems
Business directories are limited in that the editor selected which businesses to include, sometimes based on subscription. If your ancestor was a businessman but was not mentioned, it doesn't mean that he wasn't there. Another problem with regional directories is availability. These directories seem to have been published much less regularly than the yearly city directories, making them harder to find.
References
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