Directories

A variety of directories are available in the Illinois Room. They include city directories for Bloomington/Normal, McLean County, as well as some surrounding areas, telephone directories for Bloomington/Normal and McLean County. The directories are located in the designated Illinois Room Directories shelving.

Bloomington City Directories.   From 1855 to the present, these directories are available in the Illinois Room. It is an almost-complete collection. Some issues are available in both print and microfilm, while others are available only in print or in microfilm. Some issues are in the Illinois Room Collection Locked Case.  To access the issues in the Locked Case, ask a librarian at the Reference Desk. There have been a number of different publishers for these directories. The most current issue is shelved at the Reference Desk.  917.732 BLO

Cole Directory for Bloomington Normal and Vicinity.  The library holds a small collection of these directories that include the smaller communities in McLean County.  Dates included are:  1982 – 1996/97.  917.732 COL

McLean County Directories.  The library owns a number of McLean County Directories, including farm directories, rural directories, and directories of all the residents of McLean County.  These are by various publishers and cover the following years:  1859-1860, 1875-76, 1910, 1912, 1914, 1917, 1928, 1931, 1942, 1949, and 1959.  They are located in the Locked Case of the Illinois Room Collection in 917.7359 MCL.

Bloomington Telephone Books.  The library has 1953, and an almost continuous run starting with 1965 to the current year.  384.6 BLO

Greater Bloomington/Normal telephone books.  A title change occurred and it became known as the Bloomington Normal Area Wide Telephone Book.  This small collection of telephone books covers the years 1985/86 – 1993/94 and includes Bloomington, Normal and surrounding areas.  384.6 GRE

McLean County telephone books.  This is another short run of telephone books covering McLean County and the years 1966, 1978-1984.   384.6 MAC

In addition to city and county directories, the library also owns several directories listing businesses and other vital information for the state of Illinois. These include the following titles that are housed in the Illinois Room Collection’s Locked Case.

 C. Chandler & Co.’s Railway Business Directory and Shippers’ Guide for the State of Illinois.  This 1868 publication contains a complete list of all business men, classified alphabetically under their respective trades and professions, complete shippers’ guide, and much additional information indispensable to the business community.  917.73 CHA

Illinois State Gazetteer and Business Directory for the Years 1864-5.  This gazetteer and directory includes descriptive sketches of all the cities, towns and villages throughout the State as well as classified lists of all professions, trades, organized companies, and full information about the mercantile and manufacturing interests of the State.  Published by J. C. W. Bailey.  917.73 ILL 1864/65

 Illinois State Gazetteer and Business Directory for 1858 and 1859. Published by George W. Hawes, this directory is complete in one volume.  917.73 HAW 1858-59

Lakeside Directory of the State of Illinois.  This directory is a complete list of merchants, manufacturers, insurance, railroad, banks, newspapers, academies, and other businesses throughout the entire state of Illinois.  It also includes a complete list of state and county officers, court calendars and more.  Published by Williams, Donnelly & Co.  1875.  917.73 W67.