The New York
State Library has the following directories and telephone
books available:Bronx
telephone books (microfilm): 1929-1973/1974
Brooklyn
directories (microfiche): 1822-1826, 1829-1860/1861
directories (microfilm): 1796, 1802-1803, 1811-1812, 1822-1910, 1912-1913, 1933-1934
telephone books (microfilm): 1934-1970, 1972-1974
NOTE: There were no directories printed in Brooklyn
for the years 1911 and 1914-1932.
New York City
directories (microfiche): 1665, 1786-1787, 1789-1860/1861
directories (microfilm a): 1786-1787, 1789-1924/1925, 1931, 1933/1934
directories (microfilm b): 1861-1901/1902
telephone books (microfilm): 1912-1915, 1934-1974, 1976-1987
NOTE: Neither the city directories or the telephone books circulate on interlibrary loan.
Cornell University has the following city directories available:
New York Cities 1860-1900 microfilm # 4104 and United States Cities to 1860 microfiche # 23.
The Municipal Archives has the following city directories:
Brooklyn
1873-1913, 1915-1918, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1931, 1933
New York City
1796, 1802, 1811, 1822-1826, 1829-1910, 1912-1913, 1933
Requests for directory searches are not currently available by mail.
The Queens Public Library has the following city directories:
Brooklyn
1822-1913; phone directories 1926-present
New York City/Bronx
1786-1925; NYC phone directories 1932-1974
Queens
1865-1868, 1898-1902, 1906-1910, 1912; phone directories
1926-present
The Library of Congress holds the following directories:
Brooklyn: 1861-1910, 1912, 1913, 1933-1934
New York City: 1861-1925, 1931-1934
Queens: 1902-1912
Online Resources
Rootsweb offers the CITY-DIRECTORIES lookup list. Be sure to put the word subscribe in the subject line.
Researcher will generously perform lookups into various Brooklyn directories in her private collection. Lookups can be done by surname, address or occupation.
Old City Directories is offering free lookups into their expansive collection of city directories. Each month, four different
directories will be spotlighted for lookups. Be sure to click on the Free
Lookups bar on the left-hand side of the Home page.
Please bookmark the site!
Brooklyn - Residential
Distant Cousin has the 1840 Brooklyn directory online.
Ye Olde Directory Shoppe also has an online transcription of the 1840 Brooklyn directory.
The Longwood Genealogy Group has the 1822-1867 Brooklyn Heights directories. This page is under construction, so be sure to keep checking back.
The Rootsweb Brooklyn webpage has the following city directories transcribed: Brooklyn City 1796; 1823; Brooklyn Heights (early-mid 1800s);1840, 1897-1898 Lain's Directory (partial)
and the Brooklyn Social Blue Book 1929.
Brooklyn - Business
The Brooklyn webpage has the following business directories transcribed: 1873 Brooklyn City Directory; Hospitals 1935-36 and the 1935-36 Kings County Medical Directory - physicians.
The Longwood Genealogy Group has an online listing of 1889 Brooklyn Butchers, 1885 Kings County Bible Society, dressmakers from the 1895 Lain's Brooklyn Directory and the 1892 business directory for Sheephead's Bay and Bay Ridge.
The Brooklyn webpage has the 1854-55 Medical Directory of Brooklyn City and the
1860-65 Nursing Directory.
Brooklyn - Military
Read the Brooklyn City Military Directory for 1854-55, 1856-57,
1862-1863 and
1864-1865.
New York City - Residential
Free Genealogy Lookups has city directories for New York City from 1886-1894. Please read the guidelines before submitting a request
New York City's Irish website has a transcription of all residents of 591 Greenwich Street (9th ward) for the 1860s.
New York City - Business
The Brooklyn webpage has the following online transcriptions: New York City churches 1881; Newspapers & Periodicals 1930; Steamships 1930 and 1935-36 Hospitals of Manhattan and the Bronx.
New York City's Irish website has the following directory transcriptions online:
New York City School Directory 1856 for the 9th ward only.
Street Directories
New York City's Irish website has the 1859 Wilson's Street and
Avenue Directory for the West Village.
New York State Directories
The Brooklyn webpage has the Hospitals of New York State 1935-36.
Queens - Residential
The Brooklyn webpage has the following 1868-1869 directories:
Carnarsie, Flushing, Jamaica, Long Island City, Pearsall's Corner, Queens City, Rockaway and Woodhaven.
Queens - Business
The Longwood Genealogy Group has an online directory of
1895 Long Island Fire Companies. The directory includes Brooklyn
and Queens, but lists only the 'foremen.'
The Brooklyn webpage has the 1935-1936 Queens County Medical Directory of Doctors.
