Brooklyn city and telephone directories
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
Brooklyn and New York City directories, including telephone books, white pages, yellow pages, and address directories ("criss-cross"). These directories are available digitally, on microfilm, and in bound volumes at both the Central library and the Center for Brooklyn History.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in series by type and then format. The directories are held in three formats: digital, microfilm, and bound volumes. Within each format, the arrangement is chronological.
Scope and Contents
The Brooklyn city and telephone directories provide a wealth of information about individuals, businesses, occupations, advertising, and social class status, as well as practical neighborhood information such as street maps, public services, shopping and restaurant guides, maps of rapid transit systems, and more. The earliest city directories list names, addresses, and occupations of Brooklyn residents, while later directories include telephone numbers for individuals and businesses. The "elite" directories list names and addresses of Brooklyn's wealthiest residents, and some include separate listings for wealthy residents of the town of Flatbush and Long Island.
Subjects
Genres
Conditions Governing Access
These materials are located both at the Central library and at the Center for Brooklyn History. Researchers should utilize the library's Book A Librarian process to request access to the collection.
Conditions Governing Use
While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date, page number; Brooklyn city and telephone directories, BCMS.0064; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.
Location of Materials
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
The collection's digital surrogates should be used in place of the originals whenever possible.
About this Guide
Processing Information
This finding aid was created and edited by Brooklyn Collection staff over several years. The current version was entered into ArchivesSpace by Dee Bowers in May 2026.
Repository
Brooklyn and New York City Directories, 1786-1934, inclusive
Scope and Contents
The Brooklyn city directories had various publishers and list names, addresses, and occupations of residents of Brooklyn. Most include a list of streets, city charter, public services and a map. Advertising appears in 1822. No directory was published in 1827-1828, 1911, or between 1914 and 1932. The 1933 and 1934 directories listed here are New York City directories that include Brooklyn.
Digital, 1856-1908, inclusive
Scope and Contents
1856-1858, 1862-1869, 1871, 1875, 1876, 1878-1880, 1883, 1884-1887, 1889, 1897, 1899, 1902-1904, 1906-1908
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Available on the Internet Archive.
Brooklyn microfilm, 1796-1934, inclusive
Location of Materials
Scope and Contents
1796-1910, 1912-1914, 1933-34
New York microfilm, 1786-1934, inclusive
Location of Materials
Scope and Contents
1786-1926, 1931, 1933-1934
Original bound volumes, 1854-1913, inclusive
Location of Materials
Scope and Contents
1854-1866, 1881, 1883-1887, 1889-1892, 1894, 1895, 1897, 1900-1913
Conditions Governing Access
Only available if the digital, microfilm, and facsimile versions cannot suffice.
Facsimile bound volumes, 1856-1909, inclusive
Scope and Contents
1856-1888, 1862-1869, 1871, 1874-1880, 1883-1887, 1889, 1897-1899, 1902-1904, 1906-1909
Conditions Governing Access
The facsimile bound volumes are shelved inside the Center for Brooklyn History morgue at the Central Library.
Conditions Governing Access
Only available if the digital and microfilm versions cannot suffice.
Brooklyn Elite Directories, 1878-1914, inclusive
Scope and Contents
These directories were published by George T. Lain, Lain & Healy, and George Upington and they list the names of Brooklyn's wealthiest householders classified by streets. They also include shopping guides and elite business directories. Flatbush and Long Island are listed separately in some volumes.
Microfilm, 1878-1914, inclusive
Location of Materials
Scope and Contents
1878-1882, 1885-1890, 1897-1899, 1901, 1905-1908, 1913, 1914
New York Telephone Directories, including Brooklyn White Pages, 1905-2012, inclusive
Digital, 1909-1967, inclusive
Scope and Contents
1909, 1910, 1914, 1915, 1917, 1920, 1924-1947, 1949-1967
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Available on the Internet Archive.
Microfilm, 1905-1977, inclusive
Location of Materials
Scope and Contents
1905-1920, 1924-1947, 1949-1950, 1952-1955, 1957-1977
Bound volumes, 1962-2012, inclusive
Location of Materials
Scope and Contents
1962-2002, 2004-2012
Conditions Governing Access
Only available if the microfilm and digital versions cannot suffice.
Brooklyn Classified Telephone Directory (Yellow Pages), 1944-2013, inclusive
Scope and Contents
The Brooklyn Classified Telephone Directories were published by the New York Telephone Company. They include alphabetized classified listings by subject. Most include advertising, maps of rapid transit lines, "Key to Street Numbers in Manhattan," U.S. Postal information, telephone equipment/services, calendar, and restaurant guide.
Microfilm, 1944-1977, inclusive
Location of Materials
Bound volumes, 1948-2013, inclusive
Location of Materials
Scope and Contents
1948-1950, 1953-1998, 2000-2013
Conditions Governing Access
Only available if the microfilm cannot suffice.
Brooklyn Address Books ("criss-cross" directories), 1929-2017, inclusive
Microfilm
Location of Materials
Scope and Contents
1929-1931, 1933-1961, 1963-1970, 1972-1980, 1986
These directories were published by the New York Telephone Company and list Brooklyn and Queens subscribers together. Most include telephone information (instructions), toll rates, and lists of public pay stations.
Bound volumes, 1971-2017, inclusive
Location of Materials
Scope and Contents
1971-1978, 1980-1999, 2001-2017
These directories were published by Cole's.
