Think of City Directories as the 19th and early 20th centuries’ version of Google Maps meets Facebook.
Here’s why they’re awesome:
- They list names, addresses, and occupations.
- They’re published annually or every few years.
- They can reveal when someone moved, married, died, or changed jobs.
How to Use Them:
- Track your ancestor’s movement across a city year-by-year.
- Look up neighbors (FAN Principle anyone?).
- Find missing years between censuses.
⚡ Fun Fact: City Directories often note when a person died: “John Doe, dec’d 1902.” Instant clue without chasing death certificates!