CITY DIRECTORIES


DEFINITION
--A book containing one or more alphabetical list of the inhabinants of any locality with their address and ocupations.

Listed by surname first then first name, occupation address for the current year.

Listed by street address in the rear of the book.

The best sources of City Directories are the libraries. With the Metro Toronto Reference library locted at Bloor & Young sts as having a very good source. North York Library at 5120 Yonge St-just north of Sheppard has another good source of books

Different Publishers (listed below) usually covered different areas.
Mights Directories
Henderson Directories
Vernon Directories


HOW TO READ A CITY DIRECTORY

eg: Macdonald Alice tchr h 94 Bayview Dr
" Richard ret h 94 Bayview Dr
" Steven acct r 1000000 Skyline dr
" Wm mach h 22 Anywhere st
Surname: Macdonald
Quotes : lists all people with the same last name--uses ditto marks instead of repeating last name
Occupation: tchr--teacher
h = Home owner
Residence Address: h 94 Bayview Dr

Quotes : lists all people with the same last name--uses ditto marks instead of repeating last name
Next Party at same address=Richard
Occupation: ret--retired
h = Home Owner
Residence Address: h 94 Bayview Dr

Next Party Steven
Occupation: acct--accountant
r = Renter
Residence Address: 1000000 Skyline dr
Next Party Wm--William
Occupation: mach--machinist
h = home owner
Residence Address: 22 Anywhere st


COMPARE YOUR NON IDENTIFYING TO THE CITY DIRECTORY

eg: If your non-identifying says Birth Mother was a student and that her father was an accountant, then you would go through all the Macdonalds looking for an accountantin the "YEAR" you were born. you may or may not find the students. (they had to be over 18)

If non-identifying said Birth Mother's mother was a teacher and her husband was retired, you would look for a teacher and retired person at the same address

Your search group can go into more detail for you.

NOTE:Old phone books in smaller town also showed occupations. These also are available at some libraries.

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These pages are under construction.
Alice and Rick Macdonald.