Directories are alphabetical lists of names and addresses. These often list the adult residents of a city or area.

The most helpful directories for genealogical research are city and county directories of local residents and businesses. These are generally published annually and may include an individual's address, occupation, spouse's name, and other helpful facts. An individual's address can be very helpful when searching an unindexed census of a large city. Directories sometimes have maps and addresses of churches, cemeteries, courthouses, and other important locations.

The Family History Library has a comprehensive collection, City Directories of the United States, reproduced on microform by Research Publications. This includes 336 cities and regions from the late 1700s to 1935. The pre-1860 city directories are on more than 6,000 microfiche. Directories for 1861 to 1935 are on 1,118 microfilms. These and other directories are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under [STATE], [COUNTY], [TOWN] - DIRECTORIES. You can find further information about city directories in research outlines available for each state.

Some directories list only certain types of businesses, professionals, clergymen, alumni, or other special groups. These are listed in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under:

[STATE] - DIRECTORIES[STATE] - OCCUPATIONS[STATE], [COUNTY] - DIRECTORIES[STATE], [COUNTY] - OCCUPATIONS

There are also special directories that can help you locate libraries, newspapers, churches, ethnic associations, government officials, and other organizations or offices.

Local public and university libraries generally have directories for their region. The Library of Congress has the largest collection of city and county directories.

Several companies have combined recent telephone directories from localities all over the United States onto computer compact discs. Most of the United States can be listed on two to six discs, divided by region. You can search the computer directories by name, address, town, or zip code. You can make printouts of selected names. Most public and college libraries have copies, and some are found on the Internet. For example, the Family History Library has:

Select Phone: The National Telephone Directory on CD-ROM. Version 3.5. Danvers, Mass.: Pro CD, 1994. (FHL compact disc no. 23; computer number 704685.) No circulation to Family History Centers.

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