52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks 2025 – Week 43: Urban

NOTE: I accepted the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge headed by fellow genealogy blogger Amy Johnson Crow. The idea behind this challenge is that you will receive email prompts, a word or phrase, every week, and you find something about your research or family history to write about.  Click HERE to read my first 52 Ancestors blog post in 2019.

When researching ancestors who lived in towns or cities, city directories can be one of the most valuable, and often overlooked, resources. Much like a modern phone book, these directories listed residents by name, occupation, and address, often including business listings, advertisements, and maps that provide a snapshot of what urban life looked like in a specific era. City directories can also help fill in the gaps between census years.