They arose from a need for businesses to contact customers, customers to find businesses, and for residents to find one another.
City directories are directories that preceded telephone books, which were organized to find people and businesses . They arose from a need for businesses to contact customers, customers to find businesses, and for residents to find one another. Listings for individuals are organized alphabetically by surname and give a home residence and often an occupation, and place of business. Sometimes a listing will include the wife’s name and older children who may have been working.