Lately there've been quite a few requests for lookups in directories. I have found them tremendously helpful and have learned there are several ways to obtain this information: (1) Family History Centers have films of these (what I have been using for the most part), and the drawbacks are that they are pricey at just shy of $6 per film and some are very hard to read, but the advantages are that anyone near a FHC can rent these for a month's use. If you live close enough to travel to the Valley Forge FHC, they have a permanent collection of Philly records that includes many of the directories and is free to use. (2) I've not yet used the Free Library of Philadelphia's directory collection, but I've been pleased overall with the library to date. They offer what appears to be a great way to obtaion directory lookups. See: http://libwww.library.phila.gov/faq/faqsubcat.cfm?FAQCategory=19 This lookup service is offered via e-mail or postal mail, is limited to one name per request for ten years counting any 10 years. Copies are 50 cents with a $1.00 minimum. (3) The Philadelphia City Archives has directories. See: http://www.phila.gov/phils/Docs/Inventor/genealgy.htm#city . What I don't know is if they will do lookups or what it might cost. (4) The Historical Society of Pennsylvania has directories. This is a wonderful place to visit if able to do so. If not, there is a research by mail option. Details are on their site. See: http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=126 and http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=187 (5) The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania has a very nice collection of the actual books; they are not allowed to be copied due to their age and fragility, but they are accessible (and they are so much nicer to read than films!). They also offer a research by mail option for a fee. For details see: http://www.genpa.org/GSPInquiryProcs2.html (6) When searching for information on the Germantown Historical Society (something someone on the list recommended to me for one of my lines), I was pleasantly suprised to learn of the directory lookup service they offer, and they will make copies of the directory pages for a fee. See: http://www.germantownhistory.org/library.html I hope this is of help to those who are not available to the travel to those places with directories as holdings. These are wonderful resources that combined with census reports and cemetery visits have provided me with an excellent start to my family research. Happy hunting! Laurie

Remember also that the 1890 City Directory is available on-line. http://olddirectorysearch.com/Philadelphia__Pennsylvania_1890/index.html Larry B. ----Original Message Follows---- Lately there've been quite a few requests for lookups in directories. I have found them tremendously helpful and have learned there are several ways to obtain this information: (1) Family History Centers have films of these (what I have been using for the most part), and the drawbacks are that they are pricey at just shy of $6 per film and some are very hard to read, but the advantages are that anyone near a FHC can rent these for a month's use. If you live close enough to travel to the Valley Forge FHC, they have a permanent collection of Philly records that includes many of the directories and is free to use. (2) I've not yet used the Free Library of Philadelphia's directory collection, but I've been pleased overall with the library to date. They offer what appears to be a great way to obtaion directory lookups. See: http://libwww.library.phila.gov/faq/faqsubcat.cfm?FAQCategory=19 This lookup service is offered via e-mail or postal mail, is limited to one name per request for ten years counting any 10 years. Copies are 50 cents with a $1.00 minimum. (3) The Philadelphia City Archives has directories. See: http://www.phila.gov/phils/Docs/Inventor/genealgy.htm#city . What I don't know is if they will do lookups or what it might cost. (4) The Historical Society of Pennsylvania has directories. This is a wonderful place to visit if able to do so. If not, there is a research by mail option. Details are on their site. See: http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=126 and http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=187 (5) The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania has a very nice collection of the actual books; they are not allowed to be copied due to their age and fragility, but they are accessible (and they are so much nicer to read than films!). They also offer a research by mail option for a fee. For details see: http://www.genpa.org/GSPInquiryProcs2.html (6) When searching for information on the Germantown Historical Society (something someone on the list recommended to me for one of my lines), I was pleasantly suprised to learn of the directory lookup service they offer, and they will make copies of the directory pages for a fee. See: http://www.germantownhistory.org/library.html I hope this is of help to those who are not available to the travel to those places with directories as holdings. These are wonderful resources that combined with census reports and cemetery visits have provided me with an excellent start to my family research. Happy hunting! Laurie

Oops! Thanks for catching my oversight Larry. Laurie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry B." <phillyhm@hotmail.com> To: <PAPHILAD-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, May 19, 2006 2:03 PM Subject: [PAPHL] RE: Philadelphia City Directories : Remember also that the 1890 City Directory is available on-line. : : http://olddirectorysearch.com/Philadelphia__Pennsylvania_1890/index.html : : Larry B. : : : ----Original Message Follows---- : : Lately there've been quite a few requests for lookups in directories. I : have found them tremendously helpful and have learned there are several ways : to obtain this information: : : (1) Family History Centers have films of these (what I have been using for : the most part), and the drawbacks are that they are pricey at just shy of $6 : per film and some are very hard to read, but the advantages are that anyone : near a FHC can rent these for a month's use. If you live close enough to : travel to the Valley Forge FHC, they have a permanent collection of Philly : records that includes many of the directories and is free to use. : : (2) I've not yet used the Free Library of Philadelphia's directory : collection, but I've been pleased overall with the library to date. They : offer what appears to be a great way to obtaion directory lookups. See: : http://libwww.library.phila.gov/faq/faqsubcat.cfm?FAQCategory=19 : This lookup service is offered via e-mail or postal mail, is limited to one : name per request for ten years counting any 10 years. Copies are 50 cents : with a $1.00 minimum. : : (3) The Philadelphia City Archives has directories. See: : http://www.phila.gov/phils/Docs/Inventor/genealgy.htm#city . : What I don't know is if they will do lookups or what it might cost. : : (4) The Historical Society of Pennsylvania has directories. This is a : wonderful place to visit if able to do so. If not, there is a research by : mail option. Details are on their site. See: : http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=126 and : http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=187 : : (5) The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania has a very nice collection of : the actual books; they are not allowed to be copied due to their age and : fragility, but they are accessible (and they are so much nicer to read than : films!). They also offer a research by mail option for a fee. For details : see: : http://www.genpa.org/GSPInquiryProcs2.html : : (6) When searching for information on the Germantown Historical Society : (something someone on the list recommended to me for one of my lines), I was : pleasantly suprised to learn of the directory lookup service they offer, and : they will make copies of the directory pages for a fee. See: : http://www.germantownhistory.org/library.html : : I hope this is of help to those who are not available to the travel to those : places with directories as holdings. These are wonderful resources that : combined with census reports and cemetery visits have provided me with an : excellent start to my family research. : : Happy hunting! : Laurie : : : : ==== PAPHILAD Mailing List ==== : Helpful abbreviations: (APS)American Philosophical Society, : [ARI]Annenberg Research Institute,(BI)Balch Institute,[DU] Drexel University Library, FLP)Free Library of Philadelphia, [GHS] Germantown Historical Society, GSP)Genealogical Society of PA, (HSP)Historical Society of PA, LC)Library Company, [NARS] National Archives Regional Branch-Philadelphia, PCA)Philadelphia City Archives,(PCH)Philadelphia City Hall, (PJAC)Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center, (RWA)Register of Wills Archives,(TU)Temple University, (UP)University of Pennsylvania Libraries and Archives : : ============================== : Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the : areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. : Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx : : : : : -- : No virus found in this incoming message. : Checked by AVG Free Edition. : Version: 7.0.392 / Virus Database: 268.6.1/343 - Release Date: 5/18/2006 : :