Analyzing City Directories

From the Board for Certification of Genealogists - Skill Building - May 1996.

Ancestry.com - Learning Center - Article Archives

Thousands of FREE, searchable how-to articles from Ancestry.com publications such as Ancestry Magazine, the Ancestry Weekly Discovery and the Ancestry Monthly Update.

Ancestry.com - Search Schools, Directories & Church Histories

Searchable indexes; database results and some digitized images available with fee-based subscription.

Circa 1930 City Directories Available at NARA

Listing of microfilmed city directories organized by state. These directories are intended to be finding aids for using the 1930 census.

City Directories of the United States of America

A register of known city directories, their years, and repositories for the United States.

CITY-DIRECTORIES Mailing List

For those who desire lookups in city directories such as the old directories found in many local and state public libraries, and for volunteers who are willing to undertake requested lookups in these directories. Archives: browse or search.

Creative Genes: City Directories

Creative Genes genealogy blogger Jasia writes a informative and detailed educational series about city directories and their historical and genealogical worth.

Discover your Family History with City Directories

Helpful article by ourFamily-ology.

Do You Have an Urban Ancestor? Check out that City Directory!

Article by Trevia Wooster Beverly.

DonsList City Directories

City directories for most major US and Canadian cities including a powerful search engine.

EveryNameIndex.com

County history genealogy indexes, every name indexes.

Family Tree Connection - City and Farm Directories

Search the listings for free, view full details with a fee-based subscription.

Fold3 - City Directories $

Fold3 is an online repository for original historical documents, combined with the ability for users to make comments, annotations, and upload their own documents. The focus of Fold3 is to be a comprehensive collection of U.S. Military records. Some areas of Fold3 are free to use, while others can be freely searched and then viewed with a paid subscription.

Free Genealogy Tools: Searching Free Online Historical Directories

Directories, also called registers or gazettes, were early versions of the Yellow Pages, and a wonderful source of family history information. Many directories from around the world have been digitized and are searchable online at no cost.

How to Find Free Historical Directories for Your Ancestry Research | eHow.com

Before there were phone books, cities, counties, towns and villages often published directories of leading citizens, and just about all businesses in the area. These are wonderful family history resources, and many of them are now available online in searchable archives.

NSBJD'S Genealogy & More - Directories, Vital Records & Other Books

Scanned copies of Old City Directories on CD-ROM for sale.

Old Directory Search

Free collection of digitally scanned old city directories.

Online Historical Directories Website

The purpose of the site is to have links to all online city directories in one place, listed by location and in date order. It is meant to be used as an aid to genealogists, historians, and other researchers. Included are county, rural, business, professional and other directories.

Primary Source Microfilm: City Directories of the United States

Primary Sources - Directories

From the Toronto Public Library with excellent general information about using directories. Includes search strategies and what pitfalls to avoid in directory research.