City Directories are a great source to assist any genealogist research their family. Because city directories are dated (usually annual), genealogists can find a specific person in a particular place in a specific time. You can find city directories online (for example ancestry.com) or in a library or research center.<\/p>\n
Using city directories help to create a chronological timeline<\/strong>.<\/p>\n I knew my grandfather and his family (including my father) lived in the city for many years before moving to the farm. The city directories helped me to track Grandpa and his family. Finding them in the directory helped me during the non-census years.<\/p>\n Using city directories help to identify occupation and workplace<\/strong>.<\/p>\n I have pictures of my grandfather in his work clothes walking down a city street. I used the city directory to tell me where he worked and what he did. This allowed me to better understand what jobs he had during the war and the years prior to my father\u2019s birth.<\/p>\n