Using City Directories to Research Old Buildings
Do not overlook city directories when researching
an urban property. Starting in the 1840s and
continuing well into the 1900s, many cities had
directories that listed people at their home
addresses and often included occupational
information. These are not telephone directories,
but a listing of who lived or worked at a particular
address in the city. Most directories were arranged
two ways: alphabetically by name and by street
address. These entries can answer a variety of
questions such as: Who lived at a specific address?
Was this the occupant, the owner, or a renter? What
was their occupation? Was this a residence, a
business, or were both located in the same place? In
cases where occupation and titles are given, one can
often see the rise or fall in the fortunes of past
owners by noting changes in their occupational
description from year to year.
How to use a city directory
Using a directory is, essentially, a matter of
working backwards. Early city directories were only
indexed alphabetically by occupant but beginning in
the 1890s, street indexes were included in city
directories. These indexes list occupants by street
address and sometimes indicate whether it is an
individual dwelling or apartment. A typical entry
reads "Paterson N, 435 Art A. McLeod." One
now knows the house's occupant. To find out
McLeod's occupation one simply checks the
alphabetical listing of names where it reads
"McLeod, Arthur A. (Justina K.), Clerk Supreme
Court, 435 N. Paterson." This entry informs us
that he was married to Justina K., had a job, and
lived in a house at 435 N. Paterson. Some
directories have the street address only at the end
of the directory and the page number of the
alphabetical listing that the occupant appears on.
For example, by checking 1317 Drake one learns that
the resident is mentioned on page 200. Upon turning
to page 200, one finds out that John H. Keizer lived
there, he was President of the Lake Wingra Creamery,
Ice and Dairy Produce Company, was married to Anna
E., and lived at 1317 Drake.
By starting with the most recent directory and
working backwards, one can develop a complete list
of occupants at a single address. Occupancy, or lack
thereof, is often associated with house building or
major remodeling. Sometimes this search will yield
an construction date.
The researcher must be cautious in using these
directories. On occasion the canvasser missed
residents or tenants; they do not list every
resident of the community. Also, street addresses
may have been renumbered. Be sure to check the
correct address. Another good source for historic
street addresses are Sanborn maps.
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