Maryland Directories

Record Coverage/Introduction/Content
Directories are alphabetical lists of names and addresses. They are usually published yearly and may include an individual's name, address, occupation and spouse's name. Directories may include maps, addresses of churches, cemeteries, courthouses and businesses.

Why Use Directories

 * Learn the exact years your ancestor inhabited a place.
 * Locate ancestor in a census that hasn’t been indexed (esp. state census).
 * Estimate year of immigration.
 * Learn occupation and employer as identifiers.
 * Find other family members.

Before Searching You Must Know
City, County or State of residence. Find through sesarching census records.

Availablity of Directories
Local public and university libraries, historical and genealogical socities and state archives generally have historic directories. The Library of Congress has the largest collection of city and county directories.

Directories have been published for major cities in Maryland. For example, the Family History Library has the following Baltimore directories:

Online Sources
Search these online site for Maryland directories.

The Enoch Pratt Free Library at http://www.prattlibrary.org/, the Maryland Historical Society at http://www.mdhs.org/, and the Maryland State Archives http://www.msa.md.gov/ have large collections of Maryland city directories. Local public libraries and county and city historical and genealogical societies are another good source of city directories, especially for small towns and cities.

Find directories in the Locality Search of the Family History Library Catalog under MARYLAND, [COUNTY], [TOWN] - DIRECTORIES.