What Are Directories and What Do They Contain?
A. Today when we think of a directory we think of the telephone book. In many ways the city and county directories were much the same. They were compiled, in this area of Western New York as early as the 1850’s. On many an occasion death dates and “removals” are often cited. This means that a person or family has packed up and moved to another location. Others have addresses and values of real estate holdings along with the number of acres. Directories list businesses, churches and street locations and they have advertisements. They are also like an almanac; they contain maps, facts and figures, and governmental information.
