Google Ancestor Directory Records

How to Google directory records for ancestry research.

Directories and member lists are the predecessors of the modern-day phone book. They listed the inhabitants of a locality with their addresses and occupation (and sometimes business address).

Google Ancestor Directory Records
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What You Will Find in Directory Records

The types of directories you will find, and their value to you as a genealogist include the following:

Alumni Directory Records

Alumni directories contain a listing of individuals who attended a particular university, the year they graduated, and their degree. Suppose you can find information about your ancestor in one of these directories. In that case, you may be able to locate other records within the organization that can provide insight into your ancestor’s life.

Business Directory Records

Business directories are listings of businesses in the community and usually contain personal information about the owner, such as dates and places of birth, dates of marriage, names of children, length of residence in the town, and other valuable information. They are usually organized by county and vary in the amount of information they contain depending on the time period. Often, you’ll find advertisements for certain businesses in these directories.

Professional Directories Records

Includes directories for people such as doctors and lawyers, and they will most often include information relating to that individual’s history in the profession and other biographical information.

City Directory Records

City directories help you locate where and when a person lives. You will also find a publisher’s introduction, history of the city, a street directory, ward boundaries, a map of the city, abbreviations, a directory of churches, a directory of cemeteries, a list of city officials, classified lists of businesses, a list of fraternal and social organizations, city laws or ordinances, a calendar of events, and more. A city directory can often guide you to other records such as censuses, death and probate records, naturalization records, land records, and church records.

Telephone Directory Records

Most people are familiar with the standard telephone directory; they contain addresses and phone numbers. These directories can be quite helpful in locating living relatives or possible relatives with the same surname or a similar surname. The phone company in each city in the United States publishes a directory of everyone in that area who has a phone number.

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Where to Find Directory Records

The first place to look for a book or microfilm copy of directories is the town’s public library you are researching about. State and more extensive regional libraries may also have city directories for towns in that state or area. State and academic libraries also have sets of city directories followed by genealogical and historical societies. Online resources include United States Online Historical Directories and US City Directories.

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Google Ancestor Directory Records

Use the following Google queries to find online databases.

Searching for accessible state databases

  • “telephone directory or directories” “Illinois” 1920..1940
  • “Professional directory or directories” “Minnesota” 1900..1950
  • “city directory or directories” “Minnesota” 1900..1950
  • “telephone directory or directories” “Baltimore” 1920..1940
  • “professional directory or directories” “Atlanta” 1900..1950
  • “city directory or directories” “Boston” 1900..1950

Searching free online databases

  • “directories” site:familysearch.org (FamilySearch)
  • “Alabama” “directories” site:familysearch.org (FamilySearch)
  • “Directories” site:rootsweb.ancestry.com (RootsWeb)
  • “Georgia” “Directories” site:rootsweb.ancestry.com (RootsWeb)

Searching subscription databases

  • “directories” site:ancestry.com (Ancestry)
  • “directories” site: myheritage.com (MyHeritage)
  • “directories” site:archives.com (Archives)
  • “directories” site: findmypast.com (FindMyPast)

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Google 18 Types of Ancestor Records

The following is an overview of the common 18 types of ancestor records that I have found constantly valuable in my historical and genealogy research and hundreds of other resources I have learned to research and use through the years. When I mastered researching these resources, I could quickly expand my research to other records to help me connect the pieces of my genealogy puzzle.

Google Ancestor Records
Cemetery Records Census Records Church Records
Civil Vital Records Directory Records Family Histories
Histories and Biographies Land Records Maps
Message Boards, Mailing Lists, and Wiki’s Military Records Naturalization Records
Newspaper Records Photographs Probate Records
Publications and Periodicals Ship Passenger Lists Writings of Ancestors

In my profile of each resource, I have included what you will find, how to use the resource, and research insights for each resource. I would encourage you to use this section as a starting point from which you can search out and find other genealogical tutorials, and guides that help to provide deeper insights.  The common websites that researchers first think of are Ancestry, Archives, FamilySearch, FindMyPast and MyHeritage.

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Google Other Ancestor Records

The following are other articles you may enjoy to help you Google your ancestry.

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