British Columbia directories on the Internet
Directories can be a great source of genealogical information, complementing census returns, and providing coverage in non-census years. Originally available in print form, they were later copied onto microfiche and microfilm. I have been keeping track of city directories in Western Canada for more than a decade, and have produced three editions of a book listing the ones available on microform.
With more and more of these directories being made available on the Internet, I created this list to help guide researchers to the directories they need. The first version of this list had about 20 directories; now the total in Western Canada has passed 250.
Unless otherwise indicated, these sites have scanned images of the directory pages.
First Victoria Directory 1860 -- from Vancouver Public Library
First Victoria directory 1860 -- from UBC Open Collections
First Victoria Directory 1860 -- from Library and Archives Canada
First Victoria Directory 1860 -- from Ancestry.ca
San Francisco Dept Directory 1860 -- from Vancouver Public Library
British Columbia Guide and Directory 1863 -- from Vancouver Public Library
The British Columbian and Victoria guide and directory 1863 -- from UBC Open Collections
Pacific Coast business directory 1867 -- from UBC Open Collections
Pacific Coast Business Directory 1867 Part 1 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Pacific Coast Business Directory 1867 Part 2 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Pacific Coast Business Directory 1867Part 3 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Database of Pacific Coast 1867 -- from ancestry.ca
First Victoria Directory 2nd Issue 1868 -- from Vancouver Public Library
First Victoria directory, second issue 1868 -- from UBC Open Collections
First Victoria Directory and British Columbia Directory 1868 -- from Ancestry.ca
First Victoria Directory 3rd Issue 1869 -- from Vancouver Public Library
First Victoria directory, third issue 1869 -- from UBC Open Collections
First Victoria Directory and British Columbia Directory 1869 -- from Ancestry.ca
First Victoria Directory 4th Issue 1871 -- from Vancouver Public Library
First Victoria directory, third [i.e. fourth] 1871 -- from UBC Open Collections
First Victoria Directory and British Columbia Directory 1871 -- from Ancestry.ca
First Victoria Directory 5th Issue 1874 -- from Vancouver Public Library
First Victoria directory, fifth issue, 1874 -- from UBC Open Collections
First Victoria Directory and British Columbia Directory 1874 -- from Ancestry.ca
Cubery's Visitor's Guide to Victoria 1875 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Pacific Coast Shippers' Index 1877 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Guide to the Province of B.C. 1877-1878 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Pacific Coast Directory 1880-1881 -- from Vancouver Public Library
British Columbia Directory 1882-1883 -- from Vancouver Public Library
British Columbia directory 1882-83 -- from UBC Open Collections
British Columbia Directory 1882 -- from Ancestry.ca
Disturnell's Business Directory of the West Coast 1882-1883 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Transcript of Nanaimo directory 1882 -- from vihistory.ca
Transcript of Victoria directory 1882 -- from vihistory.ca
McKenney's Pacific Coast Directory 1883-1884 -- from Vancouver Public Library
British Columbia Directory 1884-1885 -- from Vancouver Public Library
British Columbia directory 1884-85 -- from UBC Open Collections
British Columbia Directory 1887 -- from Vancouver Public Library
British Columbia directory 1887 -- from UBC Open Collections
British Columbia directory 1887 -- from UBC Open Collections
British Columbia Directory 1887 -- from Ancestry.ca
City of Vancouver - Terminus of the CPR 1887 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Puget Sound Directory 1887 -- from Vancouver Public Library
The New West 1888 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Vancouver City Directory Williams' 1888 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Vancouver directory 1888 -- from UBC Open Collections
Vancouver City Directory 1888 -- from Ancestry.ca
Henderson's B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1889 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's British Columbia gazetteer and directory 1889 -- from UBC Open Collections
Williams' B.C. Directory 1889 -- from Vancouver Public Library
British Columbia Directory 1889 -- from Ancestry.ca
Vernon -- transcripts of six directories 1889-1924 -- from the Vernon and District Family History Society
First History of Rossland 1890 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1890 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's City of Vancouver Directory 1890 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Williams' Vancouver and New Westminster 1890 -- from UBC Open Collections
Vancouver City Directory 1890 -- from Ancestry.ca
Williams' Victoria and Nanaimo directory 1890 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's City of Victoria Directory 1890 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Victoria and Nanaimo City Directory 1890 -- from Ancestry.ca
New Westminster and Burrard Inlet Telephone 1890 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Williams' Vancouver and New Westminster Cities Directory 1890 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Williams' Victoria and Nanaimo Cities Directory 1890 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1891 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Williams' British Columbia Directory 1891 Part 1 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Williams' British Columbia Directory 1891 Part 2 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Williams' British Columbia directory 1891 -- from UBC Open Collections
Williams' illustrated official British Columbia directory 1892 -- from UBC Open Collections
Williams' Illustrated Official B.C. Directory 1892 Part 1 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Williams' Illustrated Official B.C. Directory 1892 Part 2 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Transcript of Nanaimo directory 1892 -- from vihistory.ca
Transcript of Victoria directory 1892 -- from vihistory.ca
Lynch's Ready Guide 1892-93 Part 1 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Lynch's Ready Guide 1892-93 Part 2 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Lynch's Ready Guide 1892-93 Part 3 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Lynch's Ready Guide 1892-93 Part 4 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Lynch's Ready Guide 1892-93 Part 5 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Lynch's Ready Guide 1892-93 Part 6 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Lynch's Ready Guide 1892-93 Part 7 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Lynch's Ready Guide 1892-93 Part 8 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Williams official British Columbia directory 1893 -- from UBC Open Collections
BC Mercantile Agency Reference Book 1893 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Williams' Official B.C. Directory 1893 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Mercantile Guide to the Cities of the USA and Northwest 1894 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Williams official British Columbia directory 1894 -- from UBC Open Collections
Williams' Official B.C. Directory 1894 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Williams' Official B.C. Directory 1895 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Williams' official British Columbia directory 1895 -- from UBC Open Collections
Merchants Agency Red Book 1896 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Vancouver City Directory 1896 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Vancouver city directory 1896 -- from Ancestry.ca
Vancouver directory March 1896 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1897 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's British Columbia gazetteer and directory 1897 -- from UBC Open Collections
Revelstoke Directory 1897 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Revelstoke City Directory 1897 -- from Ancestry.ca
Rossland B.C. Business Directory 1897 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Williams' Official B.C. Directory 1897-1898 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1898 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Revelstoke City Directory 1898 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Revelstoke City Directory 1898 -- from Ancestry.ca
The Queen City of Vancouver Wonderful West 1898 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Pettipiece's Directory and Map of Revelstoke 1899 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Williams' official British Columbia directory 1899 -- from UBC Open Collections
Williams' Official B.C. Directory 1899 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1899-1900 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's British Columbia gazetteer and directory 1899-1900 -- from UBC Open Collections
Vancouver City Directory 1899 -- from Ancestry.ca
Vancouver City Directory 1899-1900 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Official Telephone Directory for Nelson Trail Rossland Grand Forks Greenwood 1900 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1900-1901 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's British Columbia gazetteer and directory 1900-1901 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1901 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's British Columbia gazetteer and directory 1901 -- from UBC Open Collections
Victoria City Directory 1901 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's British Columbia gazetteer and directory 1902 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1902 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Transcript of Victoria directory 1902 -- from vihistory.ca
Henderson's B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1903 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's British Columbia gazetteer and directory 1903 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1904 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's British Columbia gazetteer and directory 1904 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Vancouver directory 1905 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Vancouver Directory 1905 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1905 -- from Vancouver Public Library
City of Victoria and Suburban Directory 1905 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's city of Victoria and suburban directory 1905-06 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Vancouver Directory 1906 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Vancouver directory 1907 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Vancouver Directory 1907 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Victoria and suburban directory 1908 -- from UBC Open Collections
City of Victoria and Suburban Directory 1908 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Vancouver directory 1908 -- from UBC Open Collections
Directory New Westminster and Fraser Valley 1908 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Vancouver Directory 1908 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's city of Vancouver directory 1909 -- from UBC Open Collections
Directory New Westminster and Fraser Valley 1909 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Directory of Vancouver Island 1909 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's City of Vancouver and North Vancouver Directory 1909 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's British Columbia gazetteer and directory 1910 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1910 Part 1 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1910 Part 2 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's City of Vancouver and North Vancouver Directory 1910 Part 1 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's City of Vancouver and North Vancouver Directory 1910 Part 2 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's city of Vancouver and North Vancouver directory 1910 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Greater Victoria City Directory 1910-1911 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Prince Rupert City Directory 1910-1911 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Greater Vancouver New Westminster and Fraser Valley directory 1911 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Greater Vancouver Directory 1911 Part 1 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Greater Vancouver Directory 1911 Part 2 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Greater Vancouver Directory 1912 Part 1 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Greater Vancouver Directory 1912 Part 2 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Greater Victoria City Directory 1912 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Greater Vancouver New Westminster and Fraser Valley directory 1912 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Greater Victoria directory and Vancouver Island gazetteer 1913 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Greater Victoria City Directory 1913 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Greater Vancouver directory 1913 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Greater Vancouver City Directory 1913 Part 1 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Greater Vancouver City Directory 1913 Part 2 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Prince Rupert City Directory 1913 -- from Vancouver Public Library
W.A.Jeffries' Vernon City and Okanagan Valley Directory 1913 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Greater Vancouver city directory 1914 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Greater Vancouver City Directory 1914 Part 1 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Greater Vancouver City Directory 1914 Part 2 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Directory of Victoria City Tregillus-Thompson 1914 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Directory of the Northern Part of the Saanich Peninsula 1914 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Greater Victoria Directory 1914 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Kamloops Directory 1914 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Prince Rupert Directory 1914 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Southeast Kootenay Directory 1914 -- from Vancouver Public Library
W.A. Jeffries' Kamloops and District Directory 1914 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Greater Vancouver Directory 1915 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Greater Vancouver directory 1915 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Greater Victoria directory and Vancouver Island gazetteer 1915 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Greater Victoria City Directory 1915 -- from Vancouver Public Library
Henderson's Greater Vancouver directory 1916 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Greater Victoria directory 1917 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Greater Vancouver directory 1917 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's greater Vancouver city directory 1918 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Greater Vancouver directory 1919 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Vancouver directory 1920 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Victoria 1920 -- from Ancestry.com
Henderson's Victoria directory 1921 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Vancouver directory 1921 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's Greater Vancouver directory 1922 -- from UBC Open Collections
Henderson's greater Vancouver directory 1923 -- from UBC Open Collections
The sources:
Vancouver Public Library has the largest collection of British Columbia directories online.
University of British Columbia also has a large collection in its Open Collections; search for the word directory to find them.
Ancestry.ca has a variety of directories from across Canada, as well as many other resources.
Library and Archives Canada is putting directories online, although the emphasis so far is on Ontario and the Maritimes.
Vihistory.ca is the premiere resource for research on Vancouver Island, including census and directory extracts.
Vernon and District Family History Society is a very active organization in the North Okanagan Valley. Check their cemetery work as well!
A guide to what is available the old-fashioned way:
Western Canadian Directories on Microfiche and Microfilm
Third edition, published April 2003. By Dave Obee. Expanded and updated -- twice the size of the second edition. This guide lists local directories that have been reproduced in microform, and lets researchers know what to look for. It includes entries for directories covering Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon between 1860 and 1995. Directories are an invaluable resource for the years between censuses, as well as for the later years, where census records are not available, and this guide will help you find them. C$9.95
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