by Edward F. Holden

The annual city directory is a genealogical research tool that is often overlooked by beginning family historians. The major feature of this tool is a listing of the names of the adult residents of the town or city, arranged alphabetically by surname. The standard entry for each person's name also includes, at the very least, his or her home address and occupation. In the case of married couples, the names of both husband and wife appear on the same line in most directories. Other items such as a person's place of employment or date of death may be indicated, but no consistent pattern for items of this nature exists from directory to directory.

Once the name of an ancestor has been located in the directory the information contained in that entry frequently leads to other valuable sources such as probate and land records, church records, naturalization petitions, and census records which have not been indexed. Within the directory itself numerous other listings often include the names of churches, cemeteries, schools, businesses, social clubs, and streets that may prove helpful in revealing facts about the lives of ancestors.

Fortunately for individuals attempting to trace grandparents, great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents who lived in any of several Granite State communities or in Boston, Springfield, or Worcester during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the New Hampshire State Library houses an extensive collection of city directories. Upon request, patrons may obtain the original hardcover versions of the directories which are shelved in closed stacks. Some of these directories date back well over a hundred years. For example, the library's collection contains an 1846 directory for Manchester, an 1859 directory for Boston, and an 1864 directory for Nashua. The State Library's microfilm collection, accessible to patrons in the Local History and Genealogy Room, includes directories for Concord (1902-1935), Dover (1865-1935), Keene (1871-1935), Manchester (1877-1935), and Nashua (1864-1935). These films were produced by the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester which has amassed the most comprehensive collection of city directories available anywhere in this country.

As the name implies, these directories are generally published only for cities. However, in many instances listings for towns in the immediate vicinity of a city may be found in the directory of that city. For example, several Concord directories include Bow, Boscawen, and Suncook. A Manchester Suburban Directory includes Goffstown, Candia, Hooksett, and Auburn. In addition, as is often the case in genealogical research, there are exceptions to the rule. In the second decade of this century editions of the White Mountain Directory were published which encompassed Littleton, Haverhill, Lisbon, Bethlehem, Bath, Franconia, and Whitefield. During the early 1940s, the North Country Directory appeared featuring Lan-caster and ten other communities in the immediate vicinity of that town.

Those interested in a more detailed account of the uses of city directories, their strong points and limitations, should consult The Source, A Guidebook of American Genealogy edited by Arlene Eakle and Joni Cerni (Ancestry Publishing Company, 1984) which is shelved in the State Library's Local History and Genealogy Room. The call number is 929.1 S724 1996. Requests for city directory searches may be directed to the Local History and Genealogy Room at the New Hampshire State Library.