Directories online

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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.

Note concerning the Digital Library of India website: The DLI website has closed. Some of the digital files were uploaded to the Internet Archive, Archive.org in January 2017. See Online books for more information.

Army Lists

Some editions are available on both the Google Books and Hathi Trust Digital Library websites. Google Books is probably quicker to access. However, Hathi Trust has the advantage that pages can be rotated, which is a very handy feature for Army Lists.

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. Other publications on this page such as the various Bengal Directories may also contain Army Lists, as may equivalent publications for the other presidencies.

Bengal Almanac

Bengal Directory

Also see Calcutta below.
For early editions c 1800 and before, see East-India Register & Directory below.
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 Annual Guide and Gazetteer (probably 1841-42 only); 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.

Many of the following books were originally available on the Digital Library of India, and are now available with mirror versions on Archive.org.

  • The New Annual Bengal Directory and Calcutta Kalendar Published by Samuel Smith, Calcutta.
    • 1823 Contents, digital page 6; Apothecaries, page 75 of the Army List, digital page 220; "Assistant Apothecaries, Veterinary Students", digital page 221. Archive.org Mirror of a file at DSpace at West Bengal State Central Library.
    • 1824 Contents, digital page 6; Apothecaries, page 127 digital page 168, includes a listing of 3 Sub Assistant Veterinary Surgeons, listed in 1823 as "Assistant Apothecaries, Veterinary Students" Archive.org.
  • Bengal Directory and General Register. Published by Samuel Smith, Calcutta.
    • 1824 2nd edition corrected to 1 July 1824. Contents, digital page 6; Apothecaries page 230, digital page 237. This book is catalogued as Bengal Directory, with publication date 1824. Archive.org.
    • 1825 Catalogued as The New Annual Bengal Directory And General Register Part. 1(1825). Apothecaries page 230, digital page 267. Only the first part of the book to digital page 333 is for 1825. From digital page 334 (numbered page 325) the pages appear to apply to December 1843 onwards, Births from December 1843 from digital 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. Archive.org Mirror of a file at DSpace at West Bengal State Central Library.
    • 1825 2nd edition Contents, digital page 8; Apothecaries page 239, digital page 260. Archive.org .
    • 1826 2nd edition Contents, digital page 8; Apothecaries page 238, digital page 265. Archive.org .
    • 1827 2nd edition. 1827 appears as the date of publication. No Contents page. Apothecaries digital page 248; BMD digital page 400; General Index of Names, digital page 412. Archive.org .
    • 1828 Incomplete. Contents, digital page 8. Only contains pages to actual page 228. Archive.org .
    1828 National Library of India Digital Collection. Link to a pdf.
    • 1829 2nd edition Contents, digital page 6; Apothecaries page 237, digital page 292; Index to names, digital page 496. Archive.org .
    • 1830 There are two volumes available, both of which appear to be missing pages. Bar Code 4990010047236 has more pages. Contents digital page 8; Apothecaries, digital page 284; General Index of Names digital page 490: Archive.org . Bar code 4990010004280 Contents, digital page 4; List of British and Foreign Inhabitants, digital page 326. Archive.org .
    • 1831 Contents, digital page 10; Apothecaries page 237, digital page 288. Archive.org .
    • 1831 2nd edition Contents, digital page 8; Apothecaries page 237, digital page 282. Archive.org .
    • 1832 Contents, digital page 8; Apothecaries page 237, digital page 282. Archive.org .
    1832 National Library of India Digital Collection. Link to a pdf.
  • Bengal Directory and Annual Register. Published by Samuel Smith and Co., Calcutta.
    • 1835 Contents, digital page 8; Apothecaries, page 237, digital page 278. Archive.org .
    • 1838 with 3rd Quarterly Register, Contents, digital page 8; Apothecaries page 245, digital page 262. Archive.org .
    1838 Google Books
    1838 National Library of India Digital Collection. Link to a pdf. Archive.org mirror version.
    • 1839 Contents, digital page 8; Apothecaries, page 245, digital page 264, Archive.org .
    • 1840 Contents, digital page 8; Apothecaries, page 245, digital page 268. Archive.org .
    • 1841 Contents, digital page 8; Apothecaries, page 258, digital page 283. Archive.org .
    • 1842 Contents, digital page 8; Apothecaries, page 255, digital page 280. Archive.org .
  • Annual Directory and Register for 1840 compiled by L Mendes and published by The Commercial Advertiser, Calcutta. National Library of India Digital Collection. Link to a pdf. Archive.org mirror version.
  • Bengal and Agra Annual Guide and Gazetteer, Volume I. Published by William Rushton.
  • Bengal and Agra Directory and Annual Register Published by Samuel Smith and Co., Calcutta.
    • 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 digital page 469. Contents , digital page 8; Shipping Arrivals and Departures from December 1842 digital page 472; BMD from December 1842 digital page 484; Apothecaries , page 262, digital page 295. Archive.org .
    • 1844 Contents, digital page 8; BMD from December 1842, digital page 530; Apothecaries, page 155, digital page 174. Archive.org version.
    • 1845 Contents, digital page 6; only contains pages to page 332, digital page 339; Apothecaries, page 157, digital page 164. Balance of book appears to be at the back of the 1825 edition. Archive.org.
    • 1846 Contents, digital page 6; Apothecaries, page 155, digital page 186. Archive.org version.
    • 1847 Contents, digital page 8; Apothecaries, page 155, digital page 190; Part VIII General List of British Inhabitants, page 349 digital page 422; General Index, digital page 604. Archive.org version.
    • 1848 Contents , digital page 8; Shipping Arrivals and Departures from digital page 592; BMD from December 1846 from digital page 609; Apothecaries, page 155, digital page 190. no 1 Archive.org ; no 2 Archive.org .
    • 1849 Contents, digital page 6; Apothecaries, page 154, digital page 191. Archive.org .
    • 1851 Contents, digital page 6; Apothecaries, page 281, digital page 310. Archive.org .
    • 1853 National Library of India Digital Collection. Link to a pdf. Archive.org mirror version.
  • Scott and Co.'s Bengal Directory and Register
  • Robertson & Co.'s Bengal Almanac, Companion, and the Book of Direction for 1853 HathiTrust Digital Library. Archive.org mirror version
  • Bengal Directory and Annual Register Published by Samuel Smith and Co., Calcutta.
  • Bengal Directory (published by Thacker)
    • 1873 Archive.org. Mirror of a file at DSpace at West Bengal State Central Library. Note initial pages are missing.
    • 1875 Language catalogued as Sanskrit. Contents, digital page 4. Archive.org .
    • 1876 Contents, digital page 8. Archive.org .
    • 1877 Contents, digital page 10; General Index, digital page 11; Calcutta Street Directory, digital pages 436-611; Mofussil, digital pages 614- 1046; Alphabetical List of Indigo, Silk. Tea, Jute, Lac and Sugar Factories, digital page 1048-1078; Alphabetical List of Residents in Calcutta and the Mofussil, digital page 1080-1370. Archive.org .
    • 1878 Contents, digital page 10. Archive.org .
    • 1879 Language catalogued as Sanskrit. Contents, digital page 8. Archive.org .
    • 1881 Contents, digital page 16. Archive.org .
    • 1884 Contents, digital page 8. This edition also contains information for Madras and Bombay Presidencies. Archive.org.
Bengal Directory (published by Thacker) is also available as pdf downloads from DSpace at West Bengal State Central Library. The only year not mentioned above is
1874.
If this link does not open, use the Search on the DSpace at West Bengal State Central Library website. Note, this website is often unavailable, and may only be open limited hours.
Grace’s Guide to British Industrial History contains some limited extracts from editions from 1856,1861,1867,1872,1877 and 1882 in respect of railways and their senior staff. Use the Search term Thackers.

Bombay

  • The Bombay Calendar and Almanac. 1822 title Bombay Calendar and Register; 1845 title The Bombay Agenda, or Almanac and Directory; 1848 title The Bombay Calendar and General Directory; 1851 title The Bombay Almanac and Book of Direction;
Many of the following volumes were available as pdf files on the now closed Digital Library of India, and are now available as mirror editions on Archive.org.
Also see The Times of India Directory below.
Search for titles using simple terms such as Bombay Directory, Bombay Almanac.
Another title The Bombay almanac, directory and register for the year 1842 Archive.org
  • 1843 Archive.org
  • The Bombay Agenda, or Almanac and Directory for 1845 HathiTrust Digital Library. Includes Alphabetical List of the European, Indo-British and Portuguese Inhabitants of Bombay , its vicinity and the Mofussil, page 48 of the "Bombay Directory" Part 3rd. Archive.org mirror version.
  • The Bombay Commercial Calendar And General Directory
    • 1845 Contents, digital page 8; Contents 2nd Part, Services Calendar (separately numbered), digital page 18; European and East Indian Inhabitants , page 69, digital page 144; Shipping, pages 470-508, digital pages 538-578; Domestic Occurrences for 1844 Births, page 509, digital page 579, Marriages page 514, digital page 584, deaths, page 518, digital page 588. Part 2 commences digital page 595. Apothecaries, 2nd Section page 157, digital page 757. Archive.org .
    • 1848 Archive.org
  • The Bombay Almanac and Book of Direction
    • 1850 Archive.org
    • 1851 Contents digital page 9. Mostly general information. Estates Administered by the Ecclesiastical Registrar Bombay page 195, digital page 256. Archive.org.
    • 1852 Archive.org
  • The Bombay Calendar and Almanac
  • The Bombay Almanack and Book of Direction
    • 1858 Archive.org
    • 1860 Contents, digital page 10; Apothecaries, page 484, digital page 535. Archive.org.
    • 1861 12th Annual Publication. Contents, digital page 22; Apothecaries, page 512, digital page 563. Catalogued as The Bombay Almanack and Directory for 1861. Print quality is poor. Archive.org.
  • The Bombay Almanack and Directory
    • 1863. 14th Annual Publication. There are two files. The print quality is poor for both, but the second version is probably better.
      • Barcode ...226 Contents, digital page 20; Apothecaries page 674, digital page 723. Archive.org.
      • Barcode ...231 Contents, digital page 20; Apothecaries page 674, digital page 719. Archive.org.
    • 1865 16th Annual Publication. Archive.org, mirror from Ministry Of Culture/Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad. 2nd file Archive.org. The following description is in respect of the 2nd file. Unfortunately the pages after page 583 are missing. Contents, digital page 12; Alphabetical Index, digital page 26; Alphabetical List of HM Uncovenanted Civil Servants, page 296, digital page 335; List of the Principal European, Indo-Briton and Portuguese Mofussil Residents page 381, digital page 420; List of ditto in the Town and Suburbs of Bombay, page 428, digital page 465; Births, Marriages and Deaths, page 572, digital page 607. Book ends page 583, Deaths to Fenton.
    • 1868 Index, digital page 6; Inhabitants Local, page 745, digital page 796; Inhabitants Mofussil, page 798, digital page 847. Archive.org.
  • A Guide to Bombay, Historical, Statistical and Descriptive by James Mackenzie Maclean includes Part 2 Bombay Directory
    • 1875 lacks title page.
    • 1876 2nd Edition
    • 1889 14th Edition.
    • 1893 18th Edition.
    • 1906 31st Edition. All Archive.org

Calcutta

Also see Bengal Directory above.

  • Published by Cones and Co, Calcutta. Initially the title was the Calcutta Directory, but by 1877 it had changed to Cones and Co's Directory and Almanac. The following editions are available on Archive.org, in the Digital Library of India Collection, based on pdf downloads from DLI. Most are catalogued as Directory and Almanac. The same digital files are also available as pdf downloads from DSpace at West Bengal State Central Library, the originating institution.
    • Calcutta Directory for 1874, published by Cones and Co. Contents commences digital page 8, but appears to be missing the first two pages. This book is in a number of Parts, each numbered separately.
    • 1877
    • 1878. Pensioners , Civil and Military, digital file page 415 (Part V, page 78)
    • 1879. Pensioners, digital file page 449 (PartV, page 78)
    • 1881. Pensioners, digital file page 481 (Part V, page 80)
    • 1889. Pensioners, digital file page 369 (Part V, page 80)
    • 1895, 1896.

Ceylon

For publications such as the Ceylon Calendar, Ceylon Almanac and the later Ferguson’s Ceylon Directories, see Ceylon.

China and other countries

  • The Directory & Chronicle for China, Japan, Corea, Indo-China, Straits Settlements, Malay States, Siam, Netherlands India, Borneo, the Philippines, &c. For a range of editions to 1922, see China
  • Directory for Bangkok and Siam 1914 "Twenty-Fifth year of publication". Published by The Bangkok Times. Archive.org. Catalogued as "Bangkok and Siam, directory"

Colonial Office List

The Colonial Office List for.... The title changed to The Dominions Office and Colonial Office List in 1926. Includes a section on each country, and the Colonial Office List at the end of each volume. Google Books, HathiTrust Digital Library with rotatable pages, and Archive.org.

1862 First Publication Archive.org, Contents, GB; 1867 GB;
1877 GB; 1878 GB, HT; 1879 GB; 1880 GB, HT;
1881 20th Publication Index Archive.org; 1883 Archive.org, Index, GB, HT; 1886 GB, HT; 1888 Archive.org, Contents, Geographical Index, GB; 1889 Archive.org, Contents, Geographical Index, GB, HT; 1890 Archive.org, Contents, Geographical Index, GB, HT;
1894 33rd Publication Archive.org, Contents, GB, HT; 1896 Archive.org, Contents, GB; 1897 Archive.org, Contents, GB; 1898 Archive.org, Contents and Index, GB; 1899 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1900 Archive.org, Index, GB;
1901 40th Publication, Index Archive.org; 1902 Index Archive.org; 1903 Index Archive.org; 1904, Index Archive.org; 1905 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1906 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1907 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1908 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1909 Archive.org Index, GB; 1910 Archive.org, Index, GB;
1911 50th Publication Archive.org, Index, GB; 1912 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1913 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1914 Archive.org,Index, GB; 1915 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1916 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1917 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1918 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1919 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1920 Archive.org, Index, GB;
1921 60th Publication Archive.org, Index, GB; 1922 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1923 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1924 Archive.org, Index, GB file 1, GB file 2, 1925 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1927 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1928 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1929 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1930 Archive.org, Index, GB;
1931 70th Publication Archive.org, Index, GB; 1932 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1933 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1934 Archive.org,Index, GB; 1935 GB; 1936 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1937 Archive.org, Index, GB; 1939 Archive.org, Index, GB, National Library of Australia; 1940 Archive.org, Index, GB.
There were no editions published during the war years.
Archive.org editions including 1946-1966 (missing 1947, 1960) published London : H.M.S.O.
In addition, Colonial Office List, 1863 and Colonial Office List, 1870 are available in the findmypast (pay website) dataset "Britain, Directories & Almanacs" located in Newspapers, Directories & Social History/Directories & Almanacs.
FamilySearch has a catalogue entry for a series of microfiches of the Colonial Office List, (produced by Chadwyck-Healey, 1987), currently (2021/10) available at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, with however the potential to be digitised in the future, and perhaps be more widely available, or at least searchable. The same microfiche series may also be available at some other libraries, or to a very limited extent at some other FamilySearch Centres.
Colonial Office List (to 1925) and the later title The Dominions Office and Colonial Office List are available at the British Library UIN: BLL01002841625 and UIN: BLL01007173533

East-India Register & Directory

Note that in 1844 the title changed to The East-India Register and Army List.

This publication contains Civil Service and Army Lists, in addition to other information.

The volumes below are mainly from Google Books, HathiTrust Digital Library and Archive.org websites.

Ancestry, pay website, includes a number of searchable and browsable editions of the East-India Register, (listed under three variants of the title), generally the 1st edition for the year, published in January, together with some additional publications, including some pre 1800, in the database UK, Registers of Employees of the East India Company and the India Office, 1746-1939, located in Schools, Directories & Church Histories. Additionally, there are separate databases for East India Register and Directory for 1830 [2nd edition], and The East India Register & Directory, 1844. Note, some local libraries, and genealogical societies, provide free access to Ancestry, for residents/members, see Miscellaneous tips.

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

1782 title is A List of the Company's civil servants, at their settlements in the East-Indies, the Island St. Helena, and China.
1787, 1790 title is The Bengal Calendar
Another 1787 title is The Bengal Register
1788, 1789 title is Bengal Calendar but includes other regions. Similarly for 1792 and 1795 (on Ancestry).
1792 title is East India Kalendar or Asiatic Register for the Year 1792. Similarly for 1797 (on Ancestry). For access to this publication for additional years, see Subscription websites-online newspapers, journals and directories.
Another 1795 title is The Bengal Kalendar and Register
1801 title is The New East India Kalendar (on Ancestry)
1800 tile is The Bengal Kalendar and Almanack
1802 title is A New Oriental Register, and East India Directory for 1802

1782 Ancestry 1787 The Bengal Calendar

1787 The Bengal Register

1788 1789
1790 1792

1792 Ancestry

1795 The Bengal Kalendar and Register

1795 Ancestry

1797 Ancestry
1800 1801 Ancestry 1802 GB

1802 Archive.org

1803 2nd edition HT

1803 2nd edition Archive.org

1804 Ancestry

1804 M

1805 Ancestry

1805 M

1807 Ancestry

1808

1808 Ancestry

1809 Ancestry

1809 M

1810 Ancestry

1810 M

1811 Ancestry 1814 Ancestry

1814 M

1815 Ancestry

1815 M

1816 Ancestry

1816 M

1819 2nd edition

1819 Ancestry

1820 2nd edition HT, 1820 2nd edition Archive.org;

1820 Ancestry

1821 2nd edition GB, 1821 2nd edition Archive.org;

1821 Ancestry

1822 Ancestry

1822 M

1823 2nd edition GB, 1823 2nd edition Archive.org;

1823 Ancestry

1824 HT, 1824 Archive.org,

1824 Ancestry

1825 2nd edition 1826

1826 Ancestry

1827 likely to be 2nd edition

1827 Ancestry

1828, 1828 2nd edition

1828 Ancestry

1829, 1829 2nd edition
1830 2nd edition

1830, 2nd edition Ancestry
(separate database)

1831 Ancestry

1831 M

1832

1832 Ancestry

1834 2nd edition
1835 2nd edition 1837 2nd edition HT

1837 2nd edition Archive.org

1837 Ancestry

1839
1841 Ancestry

1841 M

1842 1843, 1843 2nd edition. 1844 2nd edition

1844 Ancestry

1845, 1845 2nd edition 1846, 1846 2nd edition 1847

1847 Ancestry

1849 GB, 1849 Archive.org, 1849 Ancestry;


1849, 2nd edition GB, 1849, 2nd edition Archive.org.

1850 FamilySearch Must be signed in to FS to view. 1850 Archive.org, 1850 Ancestry;


1850 2nd edition GB, 1850 2nd edition Archive.org

1851

1851 Ancestry

1852, 1852, 2nd edition

1852 2nd edition FamilySearch
Must be signed in to FS to view.
1852 Ancestry

1853 2nd edition

1853 Ancestry

1854

1854 Ancestry
1854 Indian Culture website

1855

1855 Ancestry

1856

1856 Ancestry

1857

1857 Ancestry

1858

1858 Ancestry

1859

1859 Ancestry

For years from 1861, see India List and India Office List, below.

Previously there were some online volumes available from the National Library of India. These are no longer accessible but perhaps may become available in the future, possibly on indianculture.gov.in, or elsewhere. The years previously available were 1807, 1811, 1813, 1816, 1819-20, 1822-25, 1831-36, 1838-43, 1848.

FamilySearch microfilms/digitised microfilms

  • An East-India Register and Directory Microfilm catalogue entry for multiple volumes. Note: Microfilm ordering ceased September 2017, however all volumes have been digitised and are available for viewing at a FamilySearch Centre, or FamilySearch Affiliate Library, including at least one edition per year, with generally two, from 1803 to two editions for 1860, the latter year not available elsewhere online. Note, it is recommended that you use this option only if there are no other versions available, due to possible restricted geographical access, and the format for viewing the digital images. See FamilySearch Centres for details.
Note At times (c 2019 January) a message has been seen advising images are not available. However it appears this is an error (bug) and if you re-access the digital file, (perhaps this will be necessary multiple times) the usual message that it can be viewed at a FHC or Affiliate Library should eventually appear. This error message may also appear when you are attempting to access the films at a FamilySearch Centre. June 2019, this error appears to have been fixed, but this wording has been left in case the error reappears.

Foreign Office List

The Diplomatic Service List 1966-1972, 1976 Archive.org, with the 1976 edition Archive.org Books to Borrow/Lending Library.

Government of India Directory

Government of India Directory is similar to a Civil Service List.

Hyderabad

Also see entries under Madras

  • The following books were mainly originally available on the Digital Library of India, now with mirror editions on Archive.org.
  • The Classified List Of Officers Of Civil Department 
H.E.H. The Nizams Government 1932, 1934, 1939 are available to download as pdfs on OUDL (Osmania University Digital Library).
The Classified List of Officers of the Civil Departments Of H E H The Nizam’s Government. A broken range of editions 1928 to 1940s. Also 1919. Archive.org, Digital Library of India Collection.

India List and India Office List

Also including Histories of Services, a publication connected with the various Lists, which is available at the British Library as IOR/V/12 Service Histories. (Search the catalogue or TNA Discovery catalogue entry for IOR/V/12).

  • The Indian Army and Civil Service List. Hathi Trust Digital Library, Google Books and Ancestry. The title commenced in 1861 and In 1877 changed to India List Civil and Military which was published to 1895. There were two editions per year, in January and July. A new series India Office List commenced 1886 as a yearly publication, so for some years there were two different publications. The Indian Army List appears to have commenced as a separate publication in October 1889.
For years prior to 1861 see East-India Register & Directory above.
Ancestry has editions of The Indian Army and Civil Service List for each year 1861-1876**
July 1864

July 1864*

July 1867 January 1868

January 1868 *

July 1869* January 1870

January 1870*

July 1870

July 1870*

January 1871* January 1872

January 1872*

July 1872* January 1873
findmypast searchable only.

Probably July 1873#

January 1874

January 1874*

July 1874 January 1875

January 1875*

July 1875

July 1875*

January 1876* March 1877* January 1878

January 1878*

January 1881

Jan. 1881*

January 1882
January 1883 January 1885

July 1885

July 1887 January 1888

Jan.1888*
July 1888
July 1888*

Ancestry has editions of

India List Civil and Military

for each year 1877-1895**

*Google Books. # findmypast dataset "Indian Army & Civil Service List 1873" located in Education & Work/Colonial Service. May be selected entries only, not entire book.
**Ancestry, pay website, has searchable and browsable editions, generally the January edition (of two editions published each year) for each year 1861-1895 listed under the two titles above in the database UK, Registers of Employees of the East India Company and the India Office, 1746-1939, located in Schools, Directories & Church Histories.
Many editions from 1819 together with restricted access editions, probably accessible to those in North America, from 1924 are available on the HathiTrust Digital Library under the catalogue title The India office list. Note HathiTrust has the advantage that pages can be rotated, but the disadvantage that for most people files cannot be downloaded.
FamilySearch microfilms/digitised microfilms
Refer East-India Register and Directory above. Two volumes per year are generally available to 1895, so it seems likely these will be volumes of India List Civil and Military, rather than India Office List which commenced in 1886 as a yearly publication. Volumes of the latter title are available to 1947 in this series of digitised microfilms. Note also there are Indian Army Lists available online from 1890, refer above. Microfilm ordering service ceased September 2017. Refer comments under East-India Register and Directory above. It is recommended, due to the slow viewing format, that you only use this source if the volume you are seeking is not otherwise available, on Ancestry or elsewhere.
  • 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
  • Indian Army and Civil Service List is available through the pay site findmypast. (At August 2014, the years 1855, 1873 and 1933 are available)
  • 1880 The Indian Civil Service List by Alfred Cotterell Tupp 1880. Index. Archive.org. Also available HathiTrust Digital Library with rotatable pages. This appears to be a commercial publication and includes Salary Lists.
  • India List and India Office List
  • 1886. Link to a catalogue entry which contain a link to a pdf download. Digital Repository of GIPE, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics [Pune].
  • Ancestry, pay website, has searchable and browsable editions in the database UK, Registers of Employees of the East India Company and the India Office, 1746-1939, located in Schools, Directories & Church Histories for the years 1895-1909 inclusive, 1911-1929 inclusive, 1931-1939 inclusive, listed under three different titles - The India List and India Office List, The India Office List, and The India Office and Burma Office List.
  • 1893 7th Issue Google Books; 1902 Archive.org; 1905 Google Books. The preface of the latter two 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.
  • 1915, 1925, 1932 indianculture.gov.in. There are additional years available, which however are also available from other sources on this page.
  • HathiTrust Digital Library has editions 1921-22-23, 1927-28, 1940, 1945, 1947 available full view. In addition there may be other editions available to some areas such as North America.
  • 1924 Archive.org mirror version from DSpace at West Bengal State Central Library.
  • 1925. Link to a catalogue entry which contain a link to a pdf download. Digital Repository of GIPE, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics [Pune].
  • 1928 42nd Publication. Google Books.

Industry Year Book and Directory [India]

Industry Year Book and Directory... Commercial and Industrial Information of the Indian Empire. Published in Calcutta, first edition 1929.

  • 1930 [Second edition]; 1931 Third annual number; 1934 Sixth annual number; 1936 Eighth annual number; 1938 Tenth issue.

Madras

There were various titles over time from different publishers
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

Many of the following books were originally available on the Digital Library of India website and mirror files are now available Archive.org.

  • The Madras Almanac Collection EAP183/4/4 British Library Endangered Archives Programme. 1800-1883. (Originally the images seemed very faint, but if you increased the size of a page, the image became darker and readable, however this issue seems to have been fixed.) The images use TIFF format. If you cannot see the images at all (after increasing the page size to increase darkness of the text) you will need to install a TIFF plug-in. Some pages may be missing, for some files originally very few pages were available, but this issue may have been fixed. Some files are confusingly catalogued Dec 1904, or Jan 1905, but the relevant years are as below.
    1821 EAP183/4/4/36; 1822; 1823; 1824; 1825; 1826  ; 1827; 1828; 1829; 1830 EAP183/4/4/45.
    1831 EAP183/4/4/46; 1832; 1833; 1834; 1835; 1837; 1838; 1839; 1840 EAP183/4/4/54.
    1842 EAP183/4/4/55; 1842; 1845; 1846; 1848; 1849; 1850 EAP183/4/4/61.
    1851 EAP183/4/4/62; 1852; 1853; 1857; 1858; 1859 EAP183/4/4/67.
    1862 EAP183/4/4/68; 1863; 1865, catalogued as The Madras people's almanac and general directory, No. 6.; 1865, Asylum Press Almanac; 1866; 1867; 1868; 1869 EAP183/4/4/75.
    1872, catalogued as The Madras people's almanac and general directory, No. 13 EAP183/4/4/76; 1872 Asylum Press Almanac; 1873 MPA no.14; 1874 MPA no.15; 1875 MPA no.16; 1876 MPA no.17; 1877 MPA no.18; 1878 MPA no.19; 1879 MPA no.20; 1879 Asylum Press Almanac; 1880 MPA no.21 ; 1881 APA; 1882 APA EAP183/4/4/88.
  • The Madras Almanac for
1813 HathiTrust Digital Library; 1815 tamildigitallibrary.in; 1832 1834 1839 all HathiTrust DL; 1839 Google Books. Archive.org mirror versions 1813, 1815, 1832, 1834, 1839.
Note the edition catalogued as 1859 appears to be catalogued incorrectly, and is another publication
  • The Madras New Almanac and Compendium of Intelligence
  • The Asylum Press Almanac and Compendium of Intelligence
    • 1865 See above, British Library Endangered Archives Programme.
    • 1872 Contents, digital page 8; Trade List page 503, digital page 544; Part XII Appendix commences following page 638, and is separately numbered, commencing digital page 680 and does not appear to be included in the Contents. Mofussil Directory page 155-187, digital page 842-872 Late alterations, pages 189-185, digital pages 874-880; List of Coffee, Tea and Chinchona Estates, pages 205-214, digital pages 890-899 Residents at Madras pages 215-224, digital page 900-909 Index, page 225, digital page 910. Archive.org mirror version. Also see above British Library Endangered Archives Programme.
    • 1873 Catalogued as Asylum Press Almanak 1873. Contents, digital page 6. Archive.org mirror version.
    • 1874 Summary of Contents, digital page 2; Table of Contents, digital page 6; List of midwives page 692, digital page 727; Part XI Mofussil Directory page 701, digital page 736; Appendix XII follows page 734, digital page 770; Residents at Madras, pages 53-62, digital pages 822-831; Index page 63, digital page 832. Archive.org mirror version .
    • 1878 Archive.org, mirror from Ministry Of Culture, India. 2nd file, Archive.org mirror version DLI. Details which follow are for the 2nd file. Unfortunately the pages after page 894 are missing. Summary of Contents, digital page 8; Table of Contents, digital page 10. Part XI Mofussil Directory , page 867, digital page 956, continues to page 894 Travancore Directory then ends.
    • 1879 See above, British Library Endangered Archives Programme.
    • 1881 Summary of Contents, digital page 8; Table of Contents, digital page 10; Part XI Mofussil Directory, pages 703-752, digital pages 768-817; Part XII Domestic Occurrences, pages 20-26, digital pages 837-843; List of Residents of Madras, pages 27-38, digital pages 844-855; Index, page 39, digital page 856. Archive.org mirror version. Also see above, British Library Endangered Archives Programme.
    • 1882 Summary of Contents, digital page 10; Table of Contents, digital page 12; Part XI Mofussil Directory, pages 761-812, digital pages 852-903; Part XII Domestic Occurrences, pages 65-72, digital pages 968-975; List of Residents of Madras, pages 73-82, digital pages 976-985; Index, page 83, digital page 986. Archive.org mirror version. Also see above, British Library Endangered Archives Programme.
    • 1883 Summary of Contents, digital page 6; Table of Contents, digital page 8; Part XI Mofussil Directory, pages 779-829, digital pages 840-890; List of Residents of Madras, pages 831-840, digital pages 892-901; Domestic Occurrences, pages 841-847, digital pages 902-908 Index, page 848, digital page 909. Archive.org mirror version.
  • The Asylum Press Almanack and Directory of Madras and Southern India

FamilySearch microfilms/digitised microfilms

  • The Asylum Press Almanac and Compendium of Intelligence for 1865. Microfilm catalogue entry. The digitised microfilm is available on your home computer, provided you are signed in to FamilySearch. (Should the access change, refer FamilySearch Centres for information about microfilms and digitised microfilms).
Also see above, British Library Endangered Archives Programme.

Maulmain Almanac [Burma]

The later spelling was Moulmein. The Almanac covers a broader region than just the town/city.

Nilgiri Guide and Directory

1916 Archive.org

Sind

Singapore, The Straits and Penang

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

Street's Indian and Colonial Mercantile Directory

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, or the images may be browsed.
  • A number of years are available as pdf downloads at DSpace at West Bengal State Central Library. The only one not listed further below is for 1908. If the link does not open, use the website Search. Note, this website is often unavailable, and may only be open limited hours.

Digital Library of India is not currently operating. Select the digital files below from the Internet Archive, Archive.org, which are mirror versions of files from the Digital Library of India.

  • Thackers Indian Directory 1897- Contents on digital page 10. DLI title: Thacker's Directory(1897). Mofussil Directory begins digital page 631, Lahore p858, Murree p913 (includes list of residents starting on p914), Rawalpindi p996, Roorkie p1000, Simla p1029-1036 (includes list of residents). Archive.org
  • Thackers Indian Directory 1901;1902; 1903; 1904; 1906; 1907 Links to pdf downloads, D Space National Library of India. Update: Perhaps it is now necessary to register with NLI to access these files, or perhaps they are now no longer available through this website. Note, some of these digital files have been uploaded to Archive.org.
Most of the same files are available at indianculture.gov.in with an online reader: 1901 Partial file only, being Mofussil Directory pages 794 (Dera Ismail Khan) to 889 (Karikal)-NLI file is much larger; 1902; 1903 (limited pages only); 1904; 1906 (limited pages only).
Archive.org mirror version 1902.
  • Thackers Indian Directory 1908 - First 5 pages are blank. Contents on digital p63. Page 1 of text, digital p172. Unfortunately this volume is not complete, as pages after (print) page 975 are missing. Mofussil Directory begins p91, digital p264. What is thought to be the same digital file is available as a series of pdf downloads at DSpace at West Bengal State Central Library, see above.
  • Thackers Indian Directory 1915 - Contents on digital p38. Archive.org
  • Thacker's Indian Directory 1916 Note: Part of the volume only (164 p. or 252 digital pages- first section of the book to page 164.) Source: Salar Jung Museum, Hyderabad. indianculture.gov.in. Archive.org mirror version.
  • Thacker's Indian Directory 1918 Archive.org. Contents digital page 48.
  • Thackers Indian Directory 1920 Archive.org
  • Thackers Indian Directory 1925 - Contents on digital p29, Mofussil Directory begins p973, Railways p1488, List of residents p1834. Archive.org
  • Thackers Indian Directory 1928 - Contents on digital p17 (Nb this edition listed on the DLoI as 'Thacker S Indian Directory 1928') Alphabetical List of Residents digital page 1994. Archive.org
  • Thacker's Indian Directory 1931 Archive.org. Mirror of a file at DSpace at West Bengal State Central Library.
  • Thackers Indian Directory 1933 - Title page digital p 14. General Index cp 18. Mofussil stations of India cp 860-1287 (Yercaud). Burma Directory cp 1305-1351. Tea Estates cp 1533. Sugar Cane and Indigo Concerns cp 1586. Coffee and other Produce Estates cp 1590. Archive.org
  • Thackers Indian Directory 1934 - Contents on digital p17; A List of the Civil Divisions of India and Burma digital page 856; Mofussil Stations of India digital page 866 ends digital page 1311 Yercaud. Archive.org. 2nd file, 1934 Archive.org.
  • Thackers Indian Directory 1935 - Contents on digital p17. DLI title: Thacaers Indian Directory 1935. Archive.org
  • Thackers Indian Directory 1936 - Contents on digital p17. Archive.org (75th year of publication). 2nd file, 1936 Archive.org.
  • Thacker's Indian Directory including Burma and Ceylon
1937-1938, Contents, 1937-1938, 2nd file (76th year of publication);
1938-1939, Contents (77th year of publication). All Archive.org
  • Thackers Indian Directory including Burma 1940-41 - Contents commences digital p24. Archive.org (79th year of publication)
  • Thackers Indian Directory of India And Pakistan 1951 1953 Contents commences digital p 44. Archive.org (90th year of publication).
  • National Archives of India pay service "Digitise on Demand" includes Thacker's Indian Directory 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1932. Note: If you wish to obtain a file, ensure you clarify with National Archives of India just what will be digitised.

The Times of India Directory

  • The following volumes were mainly originally available from Digital Library of India, with mirror editions now available on Archive.org (Internet Archive).
    • The Times of India Calendar and Directory for 1897. Catalogued as Calendar And Directory For 1897. Archive.org.
    • The Times of India Directory of Bombay (City and Presidency) Karachi-Poona- Ahmedabad etc. 1932. Index, digital page 42. This book appears in the catalogue as Directory Of Bombay-1932. Archive.org .
    • The Times of India Directory of Bombay (City and Presidency) Karachi-Poona- Ahmedabad etc. 1936 is available on the pay website findmypast in the database "British In India, Directories 1792-1948 Browse", located in Newspapers, Directories & Social History/Directories & Almanacs.
    • The Times of India Directory of Bombay (City and Presidency) Karachi-Poona- Ahmedabad etc. 1937 Trade Directory, digital page 16; General Index, digital page 24. Archive.org version.
    • The Times of India Directory of Bombay (City and Provincial) including Karachi and Hyderabad State 1939. Index, digital page 13. This book apppears in the catalogue as Directory Of Bombay City Province 1939 Government Of India. Archive.org version.
    • The Times of India Directory of Bombay City and Province published 1940. General Index, digital page 10; Trade Directory, digital page 28. Archive.org .
    • Times of India Directory of Bombay City and Province including Karachi and Hyderabad State 1946 Archive.org.
    • The Times Of India Directory And Year Book Who’s Who 1954-1955 Contents, digital page 6; General Index, actual page 1333, digital page 1383. Archive.org .

Travancore

Also see entries under Madras

  • The following book is available Archive.org, mirror from Digital Library of India
Trevandrum Almanac for 1876 (but catalogued Travandrum). List of Europeans and Americans, not connected with the Government, (including many planters), digital page 88.
  • Many editions of the Travancore Almanac 1880-1925, Travancore Almanac and Directory 1911-1944 and Travancore Directory 1939-1948 are available to read online at Kerala State Central Library Rare Books Online. This is probably the same publication, perhaps catalogued differently. Note, mirror editions of some/all? of these digital files are available on Archive.org.
Travancore Almanac from 1880
Travancore Almanac and Directory broken range of editions from 1911 to 1944
Travancore Directory broken range of editions 1939-1948.

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 (External Resources page), Ireland, Australia (click on Explore the eResources portal), 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

9th Year of Issue [1938]. 10th Year of Issue [1939] Archive.org, mirror from Digital Library of India.

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