Overview of Directories From Ancestry.com Wiki A directory is a
book containing one or more alphabetical lists of the
inhabitants of any locality, with their addresses and
occupations; also a similar compilation dealing with the members
of a particular profession, trade, or association, as a Clerical
or Medical Directory, etc. While a directory can often in itself
be a source of interesting genealogical and biographical
information, its chief value lies in its use as an aid to
locating a person in place and time. One type of directory
groups people by a common residence. A second groups them by a
common association or attribute. In addition, many directories
list organizations rather than individuals and are sometimes
called registers, catalogs, annuals, yearbooks, or guides.
Whatever its title, contents, or method, a directory always
lists and locates members of a group. This chapter gives a
history of directories, describes the limitations and resources
of seven kinds of directories, and provides numerous e