<<When you talk about city directories I always wonder what I'm missing. I looked at some at the local LDS history center and couldn't find anything of value. I'm wondering if I just didn't understand. I also find microfiche very difficult to watch.>> City directories are a gold mine for genealogists! The ones I have viewed are on microfilm, not microfiche. Surnames are listed alphabetically. When you find your direct ancestor, if you view that surname in its entirety while looking for that same address, you often find the relatives. The address and occupation give valuable information to assist you when looking for the ancestor in census records. Don't skip the city directory step!!!! It's invaluable! I've documented all of my Cook County ancestors year by year using City directories. Sandra

Here in Chicago, the 1871 Great Chicago Fire Directory is like a small census telling how many are in the family by gender, where the head of household was born and sometimes how long a resident. There's another very early directory.......I think 1859/60........that actually tells where the person was from. The addresses are a big help in tracking a family within the city and helps to determine church parish in order to search those records. Judie Mason Chicago Sandra <sgordon817@earthlink.net> wrote: <missing. I looked at some at the local LDS history center and couldn't find anything of value. I'm wondering if I just didn't understand. I also find microfiche very difficult to watch.>> City directories are a gold mine for genealogists! The ones I have viewed are on microfilm, not microfiche. Surnames are listed alphabetically. When you find your direct ancestor, if you view that surname in its entirety while looking for that same address, you often find the relatives. The address and occupation give valuable information to assist you when looking for the ancestor in census records. Don't skip the city directory step!!!! It's invaluable! I've documented all of my Cook County ancestors year by year using City directories. Sandra ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to COOK-CO-IL-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message