The Post Office Directory Of Glasgow 1920-1921

Product Description

Step back into the heart of industrial Scotland with this high-quality reproduction of The Post Office Directory of Glasgow 1920-1921. An essential tool for any genealogist or local historian, this directory offers a fascinating snapshot of life in the "Second City of the Empire" during a pivotal period of post-war recovery and social change.

Whether you are tracing the history of a "Red Clydeside" ancestor or researching the lives of shipbuilders on the Clyde, this directory provides the missing link between the 1911 Census and the 1921 Census records.

Format & Usability

This product is available as an instant digital download or on a CD-ROM.

• High-Quality Scans: The directory consists of original scanned images, preserving the look and feel of the historic text.
• Navigation: While the text is not embedded (i.e., it is not instantly searchable via Ctrl+F), the directory is organized alphabetically by surname and trade, making manual navigation straightforward and intuitive.
• Modern Compatibility: Most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) perform Optical Character Recognition (OCR) on the fly. This allows you to use the search function in your reader software to locate names, though accuracy may vary depending on the clarity of the original print.

Historical Context & Interesting Facts

The year 1920 was a time of immense significance for Glasgow. The city was the engine room of the British Empire, renowned globally for shipbuilding and engineering. The River Clyde was bustling with activity, hosting some of the most famous shipyards in the world, including those belonging to John Brown & Co. and Harland & Wolff.

• Football: The city was already divided by the famous rivalry. Rangers FC had recently won the league title, and Celtic FC were dominating the cup scene, drawing massive crowds to Ibrox and Celtic Park.
• Industry: Beyond shipbuilding, Glasgow was a hub for locomotive manufacturing and textiles.
• Politics: This era marks the height of the "Red Clydeside" movement. You may find entries for political activists and trade union leaders who were shaping the labor movement not just in Scotland, but across the UK.

Famous Residents of the Era

While directories list ordinary citizens, they also include the prominent figures of the day. You may find references to the residences or businesses of:

• John Maclean: The renowned revolutionary socialist and "Hero of Red Clydeside" was active in Glasgow during this specific period.
• Sir William Burrell: The famous shipping magnate and art collector, whose name graces the Burrell Collection, was a prominent figure in the city’s commercial life.
• Sir James Stirling: A leading industrialist of the time.

Note: This directory covers residents and businesses across the Glasgow area, including suburbs like Gorbals, Partick, and Govan.

Census Gaps & Genealogy Value

For genealogists, this directory is invaluable. The 1921 Census was released recently, but this directory serves as a perfect "census substitute" for the years in between. It helps confirm:

• Ancestral addresses between 1911 and 1921.
• The occupations of working-age family members.
• The specific location of family businesses (crucial for understanding local economies).

What’s Inside: Directory Sections

This comprehensive directory is divided into clear sections to aid your research:

1. Street Directory: An alphabetical list of streets in Glasgow, showing the head of household or business occupying each house. This is vital for locating exactly where your ancestors lived.
2. Commercial & Trades Directory: A classified list of businesses and tradesmen. From bakers and blacksmiths to solicitors and shipbuilders, if your ancestor ran a business, they are likely here.
3. Private Residents Directory: An alphabetical list of the principal private citizens (heads of households) of Glasgow, often distinguishing between "gentlemen" and other occupants.
4. Official & Municipal Directory: Lists of local government officials, churches, schools, hospitals, and public institutions, providing context to the community your ancestors served.

Important Disclaimer

Please Note: In the process of digitizing this historic archive, we have discovered that the original source material was missing several maps. As a result, this reproduction does not include the street maps typically found at the beginning of Post Office Directories. The text listings remain complete and intact.

Unlock the secrets of your Glasgow family tree today. Add this vital piece of 1920s history to your research library!