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Getting Started: Search Tips

"Simple Search" allows for multiple years of any and all directories to be searched simultaneously; "Browse Titles" lets you search one directory at a time. When searching one directory: (1) bring up that directory by clicking on it; (2) click the "Search Object" magnifying glass icon (the 4th from the right); (3) type your keyword(s); (4) click "search." The first page with a hit (match) will come up and you will see your keyword(s) highlighted in yellow. Click the "Next Hit" icon (not the "Next Page" icon) to see the next instance of your keyword in the directory. Be careful with your keywords, because more than one keyword in your search will be viewed as a "phrase" in literal order (so typing "Henry Breer" will not give you a result if the name is listed as "Breer, Henry" in the directory!). Be aware that many abbreviations are used and vary from year to year (so "Charles" could be represented as "Chas," for instance).

Types of Directories
City Directories often provide an individual's address, occupation, spouse's name, and other helpful facts. They were published locally and annually and can often fill in the genealogical blanks between census years. The information within a City Directory is organized alphabetically by a person's name.

Street-Address Directories list individuals by street address rather than by name. This is helpful if you are trying to identify who lived at a certain location at a certain time.

Historic City and Business & Phone Directories
1873-1970 City Directories have listings for both individuals and businesses; some of the early directories do have listings for Los Angeles county citizens and San Francisco businesses, as well. You can search using any keywords: type of business, person’s name, street address. Most residential addresses in these directories are preceded either by the letter h (for “householder”) or r (for “resides”). Therefore, when searching for an address, “h443 N Av 52” as your search term will work, but “443 N Av 52” will not.
Los Angeles Street - Reverse Directories
1906, 1927, 1956-1987 Includes L.A.-area communities that are part of current Los Angeles city limits. Listings are generally in alphabetical order by the name of street, but it can vary from year to year. Numbered-street naming conventions can vary (“Ave 64” or “Avenue Sixty-Four”), numbered streets can be listed before or after named streets, and numbered avenues could be interfiled with, before, or after the named streets! Abbreviations can also vary (“Broadway” or “Bway”), so check to see how the directory is organized before giving up on your search. Some of these directories do include a few Los Angeles county cities.