Ohio Directories

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City and county directories can be used with census records and as a substitute for census records and other genealogical sources. They can be used for locating a person, particularly in large cities, and for studying a person’s migration pattern. They may give clues to when a person died or moved from the area. City and rural directories are alphabetically arranged by surname and are often published annually.

The publication of directories began in the early nineteenth century and continues to the present time. Directories list heads of households and employed household members, occupations, and addresses. Wives' names are given in some directories, and sometimes their date of death may be given. Local information such as names and locations of churches, schools, business firms, and street guides may also be included in the directories.

Directories of heads of households have been published for major cities in Ohio. The Family History Library has a large collection of directories for about 30 cities in Ohio. Local libraries and the Ohio Historical Society also have collections of directories.

Rootsweb has a great article about how to use city directories and newspapers.

Family History Library
Directories are listed in the Place Search of the The Family History Library Catalog under
 * OHIO, [COUNTY] - DIRECTORIES for county directories
 * OHIO, [COUNTY], [CITY] - DIRECTORIES for city directories.

Web Sites

 * Distantcousins
 * Genealogy.org lists several different types of directories.
 * Morgan lists of directories.
 * Ohio
 * Old Directory Search

Pay Sites

 * Church Directories Ancestry
 * Directories Ancestry
 * City Directories Footnote
 * NARA National Archives
 * Various directories World Vital Records


 * These sites are provided as a service in 1,400 family history centers in through-out North America. Patrons should contact their local Family History Center to see if this service is available.