Self Help

Although larger libraries have the most offerings in terms of directories, you may be surprised at the holdings of a local library. City directories, which date back to the 1700s for larger cities, list a person’s address and occupation in a particular city, and some even list former residences.

Genealogists can use directories to better find relatives in censuses, learn how long a family resided in a certain location, discover deaths and the size of a family. Other directories to look out for are statewide gazetteers, livestock brand registrations, telephone directories, and professional directories.

In addition, searching through newspaper microfilms can be a chore, but is worth it when you find an ancestor’s obituary, marriage record, or news article. You also get a flavor of the times that makes you experience history in a whole new way. Usually, the most efficient way to use newspapers is to know the date for which you are searching information, and look at the news editions on that date and around that date.