City Directories

The Perkins Library holds in its collection city directories from various cities in the United States and in Europe for the 1700s-1900s.  These directories are available either in microform or in bound volumes.  The microfilm and microfiche are housed in the Newspapers and Microforms Dept. at the call numbers listed.  The bound ones are housed in the rear of Level B; ask for help at the Circulation Desk.   (RBR refers to the Rare Book, Manuscript and Special Collections Library.) 

For a detailed listing of the City Directories owned by Duke, please see the links on the left-hand toolbar.  There is one guide that is alphabetical by city name, and another that highlights cities in several states in our region.

Some cities have separate business directories which are indicated in this guide by an (*) next to the name of the city.  The guide gives the name of the city, the years for which the directories are available, the format and the call number.  A few electronic resources are given where appropriate.  The online catalog may also be used by doing a subject search under the name of the place followed by 'biography' or 'directories' or 'social registers':  for example, "New York, NY - Directories."