The Rochester City Directory collection is housed in the Local History and Genealogy Department of the Central Library of Rochester and Monroe County. The collection consists of the original bound volumes beginning with the year 1827. The library also owns the fifteen-volume set of the Rochester House Directory, a supplement to the city directories. Many of the City Directory and House Directory volumes are extremely fragile, resulting in limited availability to the public.
The house directories cover the years from 1892 to 1920 and list the occupants of city houses according to street address. These can be found by clicking on the supplement link which is listed along with the relevant year. this site. Also, beginning with 1922, the information given in the house directories was included at the back of the main city directories.
We are pleased to announce that a generous grant from the Gleason Foundation has made many of these volumes available to the public through a special digitizing project. These directories are available by year, and can be downloaded for viewing and printing as PDF documents.
1800s
1820s
1834
1838
1841
1844
1845
1847
1849
1851
1853
1855
1857
1859
1861
1863
1864
1866
1867
1868
1869
1870
| Names A-B | Names C-D | Names E-G | Names H-J |
| Names K-L | Names M-Q | Names R-S | Names T-Z |
| Contents | Streets | Business Dir. | Statistics |
1871
| Names A-B | Names C-D | Names E-G | Names H-J |
| Names K-L | Names M-Q | Names R-S | Names T-Z |
| Contents | Streets | Business Dir. | Statistics |
1872
| Names A-B | Names C-D | Names E-G | Names H-J |
| Names K-L | Names M-Q | Names R-S | Names T-Z |
| Contents | Streets | Business Dir. | Statistics |
1873
| Names A-B | Names C-D | Names E-G | Names H-J |
| Names K-L | Names M-Q | Names R-S | Names T-Z |
| Contents | Streets | Business Dir. | Statistics |
1874
| Names A-B | Names C-D | Names E-G | Names H-J |
| Names K-L | Names M-Q | Names R-S | Names T-Z |
| Contents | Streets | Business Dir. | Statistics |
1875
| Names A-B | Names C-D | Names E-G | Names H-J |
| Names K-L | Names M-Q | Names R-S | Names T-Z |
| Contents | Streets | Business Dir. | Statistics |
1876
| Names A-B | Names C-D | Names E-G | Names H-J |
| Names K-L | Names M-Q | Names R-S | Names T-Z |
| Contents | Streets | Business Dir. | Statistics |
1877
| Names A-B | Names C-D | Names E-G | Names H-J |
| Names K-L | Names M-Q | Names R-S | Names T-Z |
| Contents | Streets | Business Dir. | Statistics |
1878
| Names A-B | Names C-D | Names E-G | Names H-J |
| Names K-L | Names M-Q | Names R-S | Names T-Z |
| Contents | Streets | Business Dir. | Statistics |
1879
1880
| Names A-B | Names C-D | Names E-G | Names H-J |
| Names K-L | Names M-Q | Names R-S | Names T-Z |
| Contents | Streets | Business Directory | Statistics |
1881
| Names A-B | Names C-D | Names E-G | Names H-J |
| Names K-L | Names M-Q | Names R-S | Names T-Z |
| Contents | Streets | Business Directory | Statistics |
1882
| Names A-B | Names C-D | Names E-G | Names H-J |
| Names K-L | Names M-Q | Names R-S | Names T-Z |
| Contents | Streets | Business Directory | Statistics |
1883
| Names A-B | Names C-D | Names E-G | Names H-J |
| Names K-L | Names M-Q | Names R-S | Names T-Z |
| Contents | Streets | Business Directory | Statistics |
1884
Complete Directory
Part I (Pages 1-450)
Part II (Pages 450-)
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GN |
| Names GO-HI | Names HO-KN | Names KO-MA | Names MC-MY |
| Names N-RI | Names RO-SN | Names SO-V | Names W-Z |
| Contents | Streets | Business Directory | Statistics |
1885
| Names A-B | Names C-D | Names E-G | Names H-J |
| Names K-L | Names M-Q | Names R-S | Names T-Z |
| Monroe County | Streets | Business Directory | Statistics |
1886
| Names A-B | Names C-D | Names E-G | Names H-J |
| Names K-L | Names M-Q | Names R-S | Names T-Z |
| Contents | Streets | Business Directory | Statistics |
1887
| Names A-B | Names C-D | Names E-G | Names H-J |
| Names K-L | Names M-Q | Names R-S | Names T-Z |
| Contents | Streets | Business Directory | Statistics |
1888
| Names A-B | Names C-D | Names E-G | Names H-J |
| Names K-L | Names M-Q | Names R-S | Names T-Z |
| Contents | Streets | Business Directory | Statistics |
1889
1890
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1891
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1892
Complete Directory
Supplement – 1892 Rochester House Directory
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1893
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1894
Complete Directory
Supplement – 1894 Rochester House Directory
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1895
Complete Directory
Supplement – 1895-1896 Rochester House Directory
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1896
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1897
Complete Directory
Supplement – 1897-1898 Rochester House Directory
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1898
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1899
Complete Directory
Supplement – 1899-1900 Rochester House Directory
1900s
1900
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1901
Complete Directory
Supplement – 1901-1902 Rochester House Directory
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1902
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1903
Complete Directory
Supplement – 1903-1904 Rochester House Directory
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1904
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1905
Complete Directory
Supplement – 1905-1906 Rochester House Directory
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1906
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1907
Complete Directory
Supplement – 1907-1908 Rochester House Directory
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1908
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1909
Complete Directory
Supplement – 1909-1910 Rochester House Directory
1910
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1911
Complete Directory
Supplement – 1911-1912 Rochester House Directory
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1912
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1913
Complete Directory
Supplement – 1913-1914 Rochester House Directory
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1914
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1915
Complete Directory
Supplement – 1915-1916 Rochester House Directory
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1916
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1917
Complete Directory
Supplement – 1917-1918 Rochester House Directory
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1918
| Names A-BL | Names BO-CL | Names CO-D | Names E-GA |
| Names GE-HA | Names HE-J | Names K-L | Names M-MO |
| Names MR-RA | Names RE-SH | Names SI-T | Names U-Z |
| Contents; Streets | Business Dir. I | Business Dir. II | Statistics |
1919
Complete Directory
Supplement – 1919-1920 Rochester House Directory
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929 (Ending October 1930)
1930
Contained in the 1929 directory
1931
| Introduction | Classifieds | Names A-B | Names C |
| Names D-F | Names G-I | Names J-L | Names M |
| Names N-P | Names Q-R | Names S | Names T-Z |
| Streets A-E | Streets F-O | Streets P-Z | Business Directory |
1932
| Introduction | Classifieds | Names A-B | Names C |
| Names D-F | Names G-I | Names J-L | Names M |
| Names N-P | Names Q-R | Names S | Names T-Z |
| Streets A-E | Streets F-O | Streets P-Z | Business Directory |
1933
| Introduction | Classifieds | Names A-B | Names C |
| Names D-F | Names G-I | Names J-L | Names M |
| Names N-P | Names Q-R | Names S | Names T-Z |
| Streets A-E | Streets F-O | Streets P-Z | Business Directory |
1934
| Introduction | Classifieds | Names A-B | Names C |
| Names D-F | Names G-I | Names J-L | Names M |
| Names N-P | Names Q-R | Names S | Names T-Z |
| Streets A-E | Streets F-O | Streets P-Z | Business Directory |
1935
| Introduction | Classifieds | Names A-B | Names C |
| Names D-F | Names G-I | Names J-L | Names M |
| Names N-P | Names Q-R | Names S | Names T-Z |
| Streets A-E | Streets F-O | Streets P-Z | Business Directory |
1936
| Introduction | Classifieds | Names A-B | Names C |
| Names D-F | Names G-I | Names J-L | Names M |
| Names N-P | Names Q-R | Names S | Names T-Z |
| Streets A-E | Streets F-O | Streets P-Z | Business Directory |
1937
| Introduction | Classifieds | Names A-B | Names C |
| Names D-F | Names G-I | Names J-L | Names M |
| Names N-P | Names Q-R | Names S | Names T-Z |
| Streets A-E | Streets F-O | Streets P-Z | Business Directory |
1938
| Introduction | Classifieds | Names A-B | Names C |
| Names D-F | Names G-I | Names J-L | Names M |
| Names N-P | Names Q-R | Names S | Names T-Z |
| Streets A-E | Streets F-O | Streets P-Z | Business Directory |
1939
1940
| Introduction | Names A-B | Names C | Names D-F |
| Names G-I | Names J-K | Names L | Names M |
| Names N-P | Names Q-R | Names S | Names T-Z |
| Streets A-E | Streets F-M | Streets N-Z | Buyers’ Guide |
| Business Directory | End of Directory |
1941
| Introduction | Names A-B | Names C | Names D-F |
| Names G-I | Names J-L | Names M | Names N-P |
| Names Q-R | Names S | Names T-Z | Classifieds |
| Business Directory | Streets A-M | Streets N-Z | Map |
1942
| Introduction | Names A-B | Names C | Names D-F |
| Names G-I | Names J-L | Names M | Names N-P |
| Names Q-R | Names S | Names T-Z | Classifieds |
| Business Directory | Streets A-M | Streets N-Z |
1943
| Introduction | Names A-B | Names C | Names D-F |
| Names G-I | Names J-L | Names M | Names N-P |
| Names Q-R | Names S | Names T-Z | Classifieds |
| Business Directory | Streets A-M | Streets N-Z |
1944
| Introduction | Names A-B | Names C | Names D-F |
| Names G-I | Names J-L | Names M | Names N-P |
| Names Q-R | Names S | Names T-Z | Classifieds |
| Business Directory | Streets A-M | Streets N-Z | Map |
1945
| Introduction | Names A-B | Names C | Names D-F |
| Names G-I | Names J-L | Names M | Names N-P |
| Names Q-R | Names S | Names T-Z | Classifieds |
| Business Directory | Streets A-M | Streets N-Z | Map |
1946
What information can I expect to find in a city directory?
All directories include:
- Listing of names: adult male inhabitants, women running a business
(such as a tavern or boarding house) - Where the person lived and what he did for a living
- A list of street names that tells which ward each street is in
- Historical or almanac-style information
Many directories also include:
- Listings of businesses
- “Classified” advertising
- Listings of clubs and associations
- Listings of major buildings and institutions
Some of the pre-Civil War era directories contain a separate listing for the African-American population. In the directories published 1916 and later, you will also find the wife’s name listed in parentheses next to her husband; sometimes-adult children living at home. Death dates appear in the directories the year after the person’s death. There is not a separate mortuary listing. Beginning in 1922, there is a separate section listing by street address. The directories contain many variations of spelling from year to year; be sure to check under alternate spellings of a name. The Adobe format page numbers do not correspond to the actual page numbers of the directories, listed at the tops of pages and in the tables of contents and indices.
Advertisements are not usually indexed, but if the directory does contain an advertising index, it will be bookmarked in Adobe.
Why are some years of the directory not available?
We will be digitizing all of the existing Rochester City Directories for the years 1827–1930 for this database. If a year is not listed, then no directory exists for that year. For example, the first directory published was 1827; the next, 1834, and the 3rd, 1838.
How do I find information in the city directory?
In the name section of the directory, listings are alphabetical. Any other lists—clubs, organizations, street—would also be alphabetical. Historical or almanac information is not indexed; you would have to scan it page by page.
Each directory is broken up into several sections. You can either select a small section—for example, Names A-C, or open up the entire directory and choose the section you wish by clicking on the bookmarks listed in the left-hand column of the screen.
Can I print directory pages?
Yes, you can print directory pages for your own use.
Why is a name not listed in the directory when I am sure he lived in Rochester during the 1850s?
There are a number of reasons why a name might not appear, including but not limited to:
- The individual was a child during the 1850s; minor children are not listed in the directories.
- The person compiling the directory missed him!
- He had no fixed address or employment.
- He was living outside of the City limits at that time. (The boundaries of the city have changed several times over the years.)
Also available – Rochester Suburban Directories, including Brighton, East Rochester, Fairport, Gates, Greece, Irondequoit, Pittsford, and Webster, for the years 1930 through 1940.
