X-Message: #2 Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2004 17:35:44 -0600 From: HAROLD D ANDREWS <> Sarah asked: Does anyone know how far back City Directories go. I am looking for descendents of my grandmother's sister. I know they were in Moss Point, MS probably in the early 1900's and I have some of the daughters' married names. Does the City Directory go back that far? Thanks. Sarah Harris Andrews Response: City directories have a long history, amazingly enough. Boston, MA has one listed on the Family History Library Catalog on www.familysearch.org which has a date of 1791. Louisville, KY also has an old city directory, plus more up-to-date ones. For smaller places outside good-size cities or counties, you may have to contact the appropriate State Library, say in Mississippi. Some large city libraries, such as the Los Angeles [City] Public Library has a large collection of hard-copy directories [books] and also microfiche. Some universities pride themselves on having collections of directories on microfiche or film, but in the case of Mississippi, I would try to contact the Archives or Library in Jackson, MS. City directories are great people-finders--if you can find a directory of the right time and the right place. If you cannot find your people on a census [especially on-line censuses], try to find a city directory or a county directory. Some directories were published every two years or so, and they generally listed each employed person, his residence, and his occupation. If a widow, however, were of a prominent family, she, even though unemployed, may be listed. Always look through the directory--sometimes there are maps and a reverse directory. A reverse directory lists the address of the residence, and then may list other persons who live at that residence--such as a widowed mother living with her son in his/their home. And you always want to look for your ancesto r's employer who probably is listed in the ads or in the business section. English county directories are a delight!!! E.W.Wallace who has found lots of genealogical goodies in some city directories