New york city directories

New York City directories! Those are a treasure trove of information for genealogists, historians, and anyone interested in the city's past. Here's an overview of what you can find in New York City directories:

What are New York City directories?

New York City directories are annual publications that list the names, addresses, and occupations of residents and businesses in the city. They were first published in the early 19th century and continued to be published until the mid-20th century.

Types of directories

There are several types of directories that can be useful for researching New York City:

  1. City directories: These are the most common type of directory and typically list residents and businesses by street address.
  2. Telephone directories: These directories list phone numbers and addresses of residents and businesses.
  3. Trade directories: These directories list businesses and professionals by trade or occupation.
  4. Social directories: These directories list high-society individuals and their addresses.

Where to find New York City directories

You can find New York City directories in various libraries, archives, and online platforms:

  1. New York Public Library: The NYPL has an extensive collection of New York City directories, including city directories, telephone directories, and trade directories.
  2. New York State Library: The NYSL has a large collection of New York City directories, including city directories and telephone directories.
  3. Brooklyn Public Library: The BPL has a collection of Brooklyn directories, including city directories and telephone directories.
  4. Online platforms: Many online platforms, such as Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org, and Google Books, offer digitized versions of New York City directories.
  5. Local libraries and archives: Many local libraries and archives in New York City have collections of directories specific to their neighborhoods or boroughs.

What can you find in New York City directories?

New York City directories can provide a wealth of information, including:

  1. Names and addresses: You can find the names and addresses of residents and businesses.
  2. Occupations: You can find the occupations of residents and business owners.
  3. Phone numbers: You can find phone numbers for residents and businesses (for telephone directories).
  4. Business listings: You can find listings for businesses, including their addresses and occupations.
  5. Historical context: You can gain insight into the social and economic history of New York City during a particular time period.

Tips for using New York City directories

  1. Start with the basics: Begin by searching for the name of the person or business you're interested in.
  2. Use multiple directories: Use multiple directories to verify information and fill in gaps.
  3. Check for errors: Be aware that errors can occur in directories, so double-check information whenever possible.
  4. Use directories in conjunction with other sources: Use directories in conjunction with other sources, such as census records, newspapers, and city records, to build a more complete picture of your ancestor's life.

I hope this helps you get started with using New York City directories for your research!