Directories online

This page contains links to online editions of directories. Unless otherwise stated, the books are on the website Google Books. Due to different copyright laws, researchers in some regions, particularly those in North America, may be able to access books on websites such as Google Books, published at a later date than is possible for researchers in the UK

Lists of birth, marriage and death, usually under the heading "Domestic Occurrences" and lists of ships sailing and their passengers embarking/disembarking at various ports can be found towards the back of most annual directories published before about 1850. This type of information can also be found in the more frequent monthly or quarterly journals and newspapers. These periodical publications are listed in Newspapers and journals online.

For more details of the information contained in the books, refer to the Directories reading list, which also has information about libraries which hold copies of the books, and alternative versions available on CD-Rom and microform.

Also see Military periodicals online

Please note that many of the books mentioned below on the Digital Library of India website were unavailable for some months during 2011. Most however are now available, but there may still be some which cannot be accessed. Search for titles using just a few words, as the search facility seems somewhat erratic.

Army Lists

• The Bengal Calendar, for the year 1787 including a List of the Hon. and United East-India Company's Military Servants on the Bengal Establishment, page 281 The European Magazine, and London Review, Volume 11 for 1787 by the Philological Society of London Google Books
• Lists of the officers of His Majesty's, and the Hon. Company's troops, serving under the presidency of Bombay. Adjutant General's Office. January 1st. 1798 Google Books
• Indian Army List, 1 January 1912 is available through the commercial site Ancestry, category Military, as a transcript, not original images.
• Indian Army List. Restricted access only, probably accessibly by those in North America.
  • Whitaker's Naval and Military Directory and Indian Army List 1899 Hathi Trust Digital Library
  • Indian Army List 1915, 1922, 1932 Hathi Trust Digital Library

Also refer East-India Register & Directory and India List and India Office List on this page, and The New Annual Army List on the Military periodicals online page.

Bengal Almanac

1851 This book contains much general information, including civil service and military regulations but no lists of names. Index

Bengal and Agra Annual Guide and Gazetteer

1841

Bengal Directory

There were various titles over time including

Bengal Almanac and Annual Directory 1815-1823; The New Annual Bengal Directory and Calcutta Kalendar eg 1823, 1824; Bengal Directory and General Register 1824-1834; Bengal Directory and Annual Register 1835-1842; Bengal and Agra Directory and Annual Register 1843-1853; Bengal Directory and Annual Register 1854-1858; Thacker’s Directory for Bengal 1865-1868; Bengal Directory, published by Thacker, also known as Thacker’s Bengal Directory 1869-1884.

• 1838, published by Samuel Smith and Co. Google Books
• Scott and Co.'s Bengal Directory and Register for 1849 Hathi Trust Digital Library
• Robertson & Co.'s Bengal Almanac, Companion, and the Book of Direction for 1853 Hathi Trust Digital Library

The following books are available to read online on Digital Library of India website. They may be located by searching using the words Bengal Directory.

• The New Annual Bengal Directory and Calcutta Kalendar
  • 1823 Contents, computer page 6
  • 1824 Contents, computer page 6
• Bengal Directory and General Register
  • 1824 2nd edition corrected to 1 July 1824. Contents, computer page 6. This book is catalogued as Bengal Directory, with publication date 1824.
  • 1825 Catalogued as The New Annual Bengal Directory And General Register Part. 1(1825). Only the first part of the book to computer page 333 is for 1825. From computer page 334 (numbered page 325) the pages appear to apply to December 1843 onwards, Births from December 1843 from computer page 510. From page 540, the first of a series of indexes, only relevant if the reference is to page 325 onwards. These pages seem to be from the 1845 edition, refer below.
  • 1825 2nd edition Contents, computer page 8
  • 1826 2nd edition Contents, computer page 8
  • 1829 2nd edition Contents, computer page 6; Index to names, computer page 496.
  • 1830 Contents, computer page 4; List of British and Foreign Inhabitants, computer page 326.
  • 1831 Contents, computer page 10
  • 1831 2nd edition Contents, computer page 8
  • 1832 Contents, computer page 8
• Bengal Directory and Annual Register
  • 1835 Contents, computer page 8; Apothecaries, page 237, computer page 278
  • 1838 with 3rd Quarterly Register, Contents, computer page 8; Apothecaries page 245, computer page 262.
  • 1838 available, but also available on Google Books, refer above
  • 1839 Contents, computer page 8; Apothecaries, page 245, computer page 264
  • 1840 Contents, computer page 8; Apothecaries, page 245, computer page 268
  • 1841 Contents, computer page 8; Apothecaries, page 258, computer page 283
• Bengal and Agra Directory and Annual Register
  • 1843 The title is The Bengal and Agra Directory and Half Yearly Register for 1843. Note some pages appear to be missing, for example actual page 566 is computer page 469. Contents , computer page 8; Shipping Arrivals and Departures from December 1842 computer page 472; BMD from December 1842 computer page 484; Apothecaries , page 262, computer page 295
  • 1844 Contents, computer page 8; BMD from December 1842, computer page 530; Apothecaries, page 155, computer page 174
  • 1845 Contents, computer page 6; only contains pages to page 332, computer page 339; Apothecaries, page 157, computer page 164. Balance of book appears to be at the back of the 1825 edition.
  • 1846 Contents, computer page 6; Apothecaries, page 155, computer page 186
  • 1848 Contents , computer page 8; Shipping Arrivals and Departures from computer page 592; BMD from December 1846 from computer page 609; Apothecaries, page 155, computer page 190.
  • 1849 Contents, computer page 6 Apothecaries, page 154, computer page 191
  • 1851 Contents, computer page 6 Apothecaries, page 281, computer page 310
• Bengal Directory (published by Thacker)
  • 1875 Language catalogued as Sanskrit. Contents, computer page 4
  • 1876 Contents, computer page 8
  • 1878 Contents, computer page 10
  • 1879 Language catalogued as Sanskrit. Contents, computer page 8
  • 1881 Contents, computer page 16
  • 1884 Contents, computer page 8. This edition also contains information for Madras and Bombay Presidencies.

Bombay

• The Bombay Calendar and Almanac
  • 1822 Hathi Trust Digital Library. Includes Marriages Births and Deaths in 1821, page 113 of the Appendix
  • 1842 Google Books
  • 1856 Hathi Trust Digital Library. Includes List of European and East Indian Inhabitants, page 283

The following volumes are available to read online on the Digital Library of India website.

Also see The Times of India Directory below. Search for titles using simple terms such as Bombay Directory, Bombay Almanac.

• The Bombay Commercial Calender And General Directory
  • 1845 Contents, computer page 8; Contents 2nd Part, Services Calendar (separately numbered), computer page 18; European and East Indian Inhabitants , page 69, computer page 144; Shipping, pages 470-508, computer pages 538-578; Domestic Occurrences for 1844 Births, page 509, computer page 579, Marriages page 514, computer page 584, deaths, page 518, computer page 588. Part 2 commences computer page 595. Apothecaries, 2nd Section page 157, computer page 757.
• The Bombay Almanac
  • 1851 Contents computer page 9. Mostly general information. Estates Administered by the Ecclesiastical Registrar Bombay page 195, computer page 256
• The Bombay Almanack and Book of Direction
  • 1860 Contents, computer page 10; Apothecaries, page 484, computer page 535
  • 1861 Contents, computer page 22; Apothecaries, page 512, computer page 563. Catalogued as The Bombay Almanack and Directory for 1861. Print quality is poor.
• The Bombay Almanack and Directory
  • 1863. There are two files. The print quality is poor for both, but the second version is probably better.
    • Barcode ...226 Contents, computer page 20; Apothecaries page 674, computer page 723
    • Barcode ...231 Contents, computer page 20; Apothecaries page 674, computer page 719
  • 1865. Unfortunately the pages after page 583 are missing. Contents, computer page 12; Alphabetical Index, computer page 26; Alphabetical List of HM Uncovenanted Civil Servants, page 296, computer page 335; List of the Principal European, Indo-Briton and Portuguese Mofussil Residents page 381, computer page 420; List of ditto in the Town and Suburbs of Bombay, page 428, computer page 465; Births, Marriages and Deaths, page 572, computer page 607. Book ends page 583, Deaths to Fenton.
  • 1868 Index, computer page 6; Inhabitants Local, page 745, computer page 796; Inhabitants Mofussil, page 798, computer page 847.

East-India Register & Directory

These volumes are from the Google Books and the Hathi Trust Digital Library websites and contain Civil Service and Army Lists, in addition to other information.

The editions with an M following the year are available on the subscription website The Making of the Modern World-The Goldsmiths’-Kress Library of Economic Literature 1450-1850

1802 title is A New Oriental Register, and East India Directory for 1802

		1802		1804 M	1805 M			1808 M	1809 M
1810 M				1814 M	1815 M	1816 M			1819
1820	1821	1822 M	1823	1824	1825	1826	1827	1828	1829, 1829 2nd edition
1830 2nd edition	1831 M	1832					1837 2nd edition		1839
	1841 M	1842	1843	1844	1845	1846	1847		1849
1850	1851	1852	1853	1854	1855	1856	1857		1859

Ferguson’s Ceylon Directory

A broken range of editions of Ferguson's Ceylon Directory from 1871 to 1930 is available on the website History of Ceylon Tea. This India List post advises "In the index on the left hand side look for an entry marked (usually) General Directory (towards the bottom) and then click on a page to see the contents.

Govt of India Directory

• Govt of India Directory 1935 is available to download as a pdf on OUDL (Osmania University Digital Library). This publication is similar to a Civil Service List.
• Govt of India Directory January 1947 is available to read online on the Digital Library of India website.

Hyderabad

Also see entries under Madras

The following books are available to read online on Digital Library of India website.

• The Hyderabad Almanac and Directory for 1892 No contents page. List of Principal European and Anglo-Indian Residents in Hyderabad computer page 170
• 1936 Hyderabad Directory Contents, computer page 5; Who's Who, computer page 226; Lawyers, computer page 282 Doctors, page 291

India List and India Office List

• The Indian Army and Civil Service List. Hathi Trust Digital Library and Google Books

July 1864

July 1867

January 1868

July 1869

January 1870

July 1870

January 1871

Restricted access editions , probably accessible to those in North America, are available from 1872 on the Hathi Trust Digital Library under the catalogue title The India office and Burma office list. The Indian Army List is thought to be included until c 1895.

• From 1870 to 1893, The New Annual Army List contained an Indian Civil Service List. The full title of the publication was 1870-1880, The New Annual Army List, Militia List, and Indian Civil Service List; 1881-1893, The New Annual Army List, Militia List, Yeomanry Cavalry List, and Indian Civil Service List. Archive.org

1870, page 681	1871, page 682	1872, page 682	1873, page 691	1874, page 732
1875, page 742	1876, page 741	1877, page 744
1880, page 741	1881, page 750		1883, page 752	1884, page 752
1885, page 752	1886, page 892	1887, incomplete		1889, page 892
1890, page 892	1891, page 892

• 1873 Indian Army and Civil Service List is available through the commercial site FindMyPast, category Migration probably as a transcript, not original images.
• 1880 The Indian Civil Service List Archive.org
• India List and India Office List

1902 Archive.org; 1905 Google Books. The preface of both editions states: In the lists of Officers serving in India, which are contained in pages... of this volume, only substantive appointments are shown ; and, except in the case of members of the Indian Civil Service, the names of Officers drawing substantive pay of less than Rs. 500 a month are not included.

• 1933 India Office List is available through the commercial site FindMyPast, category Migration probably as a transcript, not original images.
• The following Lists may be viewed online on the Digital Library of India website.
  • India and India/Burma
    • The Combined Civil List For India. 1915-1934 (incomplete)
    • The Combined Civil List For India And Burma. September 1934-1939
    • The Indian Office And Burma Office List 1940, 1947.
  • Provincial Lists
    • Civil List For Bengal 1909-1945 (incomplete)
    • Bihar And Orissa Quarterly Civil List Corrected Up To The 1st April 1931
    • Bombay Civil List. 1945
    • Jaipur Half-yearly Civil List. 1942
    • The Quarterly List Of Civil Officers Serving In The North West Frontier Province. 1930
    • The Classified List Of Officers Of The Civil Department Of H E H The Nizam’ s Government. 1932, 1936
    • The Civil List for United Provinces 1913.
    • Punjab Civil List corrected up to 1st November 1946.
    • Western India States Agency Civil List 1931

Madras

There were various titles over time
The Madras Almanac and Compendium of Intelligence; The Madras New Almanac and Compendium of Intelligence; The Asylum Press Almanac and Compendium of Intelligence; The Asylum Press Almanack and Directory of Madras and Southern India

However, search for titles using simple terms such as Madras Almanac, Asylum Press etc

The following books are available to read online on Digital Library of India website.

• The Madras Almanac and Compendium of Intelligence
  • 1857 Summary of contents, computer page 6, detailed contents, computer page 8
• The Madras New Almanac and Compendium of Intelligence
  • 1861 Summary of contents, computer page 8, detailed contents, computer page 10
• The Asylum Press Almanac and Compendium of Intelligence
  • 1872 Contents, computer page 8; Trade List page 503, computer page 544; Part XII Appendix commences following page 638, and is separately numbered, commencing computer page 680 and does not appear to be included in the Contents. Mofussil Directory page 155-187, computer page 842-872 Late alterations, pages 189-185, computer pages 874-880; List of Coffee, Tea and Chinchona Estates, pages 205-214, computer pages 890-899 Residents at Madras pages 215-224, computer page 900-909 Index, page 225, computer page 910
  • 1873 Catalogued as Asylum Press Almanak 1873. Contents, computer page 6
  • 1874 Summary of Contents, computer page 2;Table of Contents, computer page 6; List of midwives page 692, computer page 727; Part XI Mofussil Directory page 701, computer page 736; Appendix XII follows page 734, computer page 770; Residents at Madras, pages 53-62, computer pages 822-831; Index page 63, computer page 832
  • 1878 Unfortunately the pages after page 894 are missing. Summary of Contents, computer page 8; Table of Contents, computer page 10. Part XI Mofussil Directory , page 867, computer page 956, continues to page 894 Travancore Directory then ends.
  • 1881 Summary of Contents, computer page 8; Table of Contents, computer page 10; Part XI Mofussil Directory, pages 703-752, computer pages 768-817; Part XII Domestic Occurrences, pages 20-26, computer pages 837-843; List of Residents of Madras, pages 27-38, computer pages 844-855; Index, page 39, computer page 856.
  • 1882 Summary of Contents, computer page 10; Table of Contents, computer page 12; Part XI Mofussil Directory, pages 761-812, computer pages 852-903; Part XII Domestic Occurrences, pages 65-72, computer pages 968-975; List of Residents of Madras, pages 73-82, computer pages 976-985; Index, page 83, computer page 986.
  • 1883 Summary of Contents, computer page 6; Table of Contents, computer page 8; Part XI Mofussil Directory, pages 779-829, computer pages 840-890; List of Residents of Madras, pages 831-840, computer pages 892-901; Domestic Occurrences, pages 841-847, computer pages 902-908 Index, page 848, computer page 909
• The Asylum Press Almanack and Directory of Madras and Southern India
  • 1918 Includes Burma. Summary of Contents, computer page 26. General Index missing.
  • 1919 Includes Burma. Summary of Contents, computer page 30. General Index commences computer page 2116, but is only two pages A- Bolarum
  • 1924 Includes Nizam’s Dominions, Mysore, Travancore and Cochin. Contents, computer page 44
  • 1925 Includes Nizam’s Dominions, Mysore, Travancore and Cochin. Contents, Computer page 54
  • 1928 Includes Nizam’s Dominions, Mysore, Travancore and Cochin. Contents, computer page 78

Nilgiri Guide and Directory

1916 Archive.org

Street's Indian and Colonial Mercantile Directory

• 1869 Google Books

• 1870 Google Books

Thacker's Indian Directory

From 1865 to 1884, Thacker published a Bengal Directory, refer above. The 1884 edition included Madras and Bombay Presidencies.

• The 1895 edition is available through the commercial website Ancestry and is searchable.

Digital Library of India

The Digital Library of India (here) has the following editions (not searchable):

• Thackers Indian Directory 1908 - Contents on computer p63. Unfortunately this volume is not complete, as pages after (actual) page 975 are missing. Mofussil Directory begins p91, computer p264.
• Thackers Indian Directory 1915 - Contents on computer p38
• Thackers Indian Directory 1920 - Contents missing initial page(s), commences computer p16 at Bi...
• Thackers Indian Directory 1925 - Contents on computer p29, Mofussil Directory begins p973, Railways p1488, List of residents p1834.
• Thackers Indian Directory 1928 - Contents on computer p17 (Nb this edition listed on the DLoI as 'Thacker S Indian Directory 1928') Alphabetical List of Residents computer page 1994
• Thackers Indian Directory 1934 - Contents on computer p17
• Thackers Indian Directory 1936 - Contents on computer p17
• Thacker's Indian Directory including Burma and Ceylon, 1937-38 Contents commences computer p3
• Thackers Indian Directory 1938 - Contents on computer p17
• Thacker's Indian Directory including Burma and Ceylon, 1939 - Contents commences computer p17
• Thackers Indian Directory 1940-41 - Contents commences computer p24
• Thackers Indian Directory Of India And Pakistan 1951 1953 Contents commences computer p 44. Also available to download as a pdf on OUDL (Osmania University Digital Library). Nb: the pdf is a large file size (305.1Mb)

Nb - use the title as given here in order to find them on the DLoI website.

The Times of India Directory

• The following volumes are available to read online on the Digital Library of India website.
  • The Times of India Calendar and Directory for 1907. Contains information for India generally but there is more about the Bombay Presidency. Contents, computer page 51; Civil Lists, Bombay, Madras Bengal; Bombay residents, computer page 892; Mofussil Directories for Bombay Presidency, computer page 1064; Railway Directories computer page 1146
  • The Times of India Directory of Bombay (City and Presidency) Karachi-Poona- Ahmedabad etc. 1932. Index, computer page 42. This book appears in the catalogue as Directory Of Bombay-1932
  • The Times of India Directory of Bombay (City and Presidency) Karachi-Poona- Ahmedabad etc. 1935. Index, computer page 26. This book appears in the catalogue as The Times Of India Directory Of Bombay (1935)
  • The Times of India Directory of Bombay (City and Presidency) Karachi-Poona- Ahmedabad etc. 1937 Trade Directory, computer page 16; General Index, computer page 24.
  • The Times of India Directory of Bombay (City and Provincial) including Karachi and Hyderabad State 1939. Index, computer page 13. This book apppears in the catalogue as Directory Of Bombay City Province 1939 Government Of India
  • The Times of India Directory of Bombay City and Province published 1940. General Index, computer page 10;Trade Directory, computer page 28
  • The Times Of India Directory And Year Book Who’s Who 1954-1955 Contents, computer page 6; General Index, actual page 1333, computer page 1383. Also is available to download as a pdf on OUDL (Osmania University Digital Library). Note that the applicable pdf is a large file size (330.5Mb).

Travancore

Also see entries under Madras

The following books are available to read online on Digital Library of India website.

• Travandrum Almanac for 1876 Contents, computer page 6; List of Europeans and Americans, not connected with the Government, computer page 88
• Travancore Almanac for 1878 Index, computer page 6
• Travabcire Almanac for 1881 Catalogued incorrectly, should be Travancore. Index, computer page 6
• The Travancore Directory For 1941 Part I Contents, commences computer page 4, page missing; Index, computer page 439, (only to letter M)

Singapore, The Straits and Penang

The National Library of Singapore has some Directories which can be downloaded. Refer Singapore for details

Subscription websites

Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO)

A number of directories from the late 1700’s are available on the website Eighteenth Century Collections Online (ECCO- A part of Gale Digital Collections). The access is restricted to Library Card holders of participating libraries including the following National Libraries (noting there is generally a residential requirement): Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Australia, State Library of NSW, and many University Libraries. ECCO may also be accessed from the British Library Reading Rooms.

• A List of the Company's civil servants, at their settlements in the East-Indies, the island St. Helena, and China. 1790, 1799. -HEIC lists of senior and junior merchants, factors, and writers
• Bengal calendar. 1787, 1789
• Bengal calendar & register. 1790
• Bengal kalendar and almanack. 1792
• Bengal kalendar and register. 1795, 1800
• Bengal or East-India calendar. 1795 includes details for Madras, Bombay etc
• Bengal register, containing lists of the Hon. Company's civil and military establishments, under the Presidency of Fort William 1787. HEIC employees in Bengal, including surgeons
• Calcutta monthly register. Vol 1, November 1790.
• East India kalendar; or, Asiatic register for Bengal, Madras, Bombay, Fort Marlborough, China, and St. Helena. 1791, 1793, 1794, 1796, 1797, 1798, 1800.
• Oriental magazine; or, Calcutta amusement. 1785

The Making of the Modern World

The Goldsmiths'-Kress Library of Economic Literature 1450-1850. A part of Gale Digital Collections. Similar access conditions apply as for ECCO, refer above.

In addition to volumes noted under The East India Directory and Register above, the following directories relating to India have been noted:

• A List of the Company's civil servants, at their settlements in the East-Indies, the island St. Helena, and China 1785
• East India kalendar; or, Asiatic register for Bengal, Madras, Bombay, Fort Marlborough, China, and St. Helena. 1791, 1792 (1791 is also available on ECCO)
• The Calcutta Star almanac and strangers’ guide in Calcutta : including commercial & trade list for MDCCCXLV. [1844?].

For further details about these two websites , refer Subscription websites-online newspapers, journals and directories

Who's Who In India, Burma and Ceylon

Tenth Year of Issue 1939, edited by Thos. Peters is available to read online on the Digital Library of India website. Index of names commences computer page 786