The Post Office Directory Of Glasgow 1929-1930: A Digital Genealogy Resource

Step back into the vibrant era of late 1920s Glasgow with this complete facsimile of the 1929-1930 Post Office Directory. An essential addition to any family historian’s library, this directory bridges the gap between the 1921 Census and the 1939 Register, offering a unique snapshot of life in Scotland’s industrial powerhouse.

Product Format

This directory is available as a Digital Download or on CD-ROM. Please note: This product consists of high-resolution scans of the original pages. The text is not embedded or searchable within the file itself. However, the directory is organized alphabetically by surname and trade, making manual navigation straightforward and intuitive. Furthermore, modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) often perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly, allowing you to use the "Find" function in your viewer software to locate names and keywords.

Navigating the Directory

The directory is divided into comprehensive sections designed to help you locate ancestors and their businesses:

1. Street Directory: A full listing of streets in Glasgow (including suburbs), showing the head of household or business occupying every numbered house. Perfect for tracing who lived next door.
2. Commercial / Trades Directory: An alphabetical list of professions and trades. Find out who the local bakers, solicitors, and shipbuilders were.
3. Alphabetical List of Residents: The primary name index, listing private residents and their addresses.
4. Official & Municipal Information: Details of the City Council, magistrates, public officials, churches, schools, and charitable institutions.

Bridging the Census Gaps

For genealogists, this directory is a vital tool for filling the "Census Void." The 1931 Census for Scotland was destroyed in World War II, and the 1941 Census was never taken due to the war. This directory places your family exactly in 1929-1930, a time of significant change between the wars.

Famous Residents and Glasgow History

Glasgow in 1929 was the "Second City of the Empire." Within these pages, you may find prominent figures who shaped the city’s history:

• Sir John Lithgow (1st Baronet): The shipbuilder and industrialist who played a massive role in the Clyde's shipbuilding boom.
• Football Legends: This era coincides with the management of Bill Struth (Rangers) and Willie Maley (Celtic). You may find the residential addresses of players from the "Old Firm" dominating the Scottish football landscape.
• Architects & Artists: While Charles Rennie Mackintosh had left the city, the influence of the Glasgow Style remained, and many architects and artists working in the Art Deco style of the late 20s are listed.

Interesting Facts about Glasgow in 1929-1930

• Industry: Despite the looming shadow of the Great Depression, the Clyde was still a powerhouse of engineering and shipbuilding. This directory captures the industry at its peak inter-war height.
• Transport: 1929 saw the Glasgow electric tramway system at its zenith, connecting the sprawling city from Possilpark to Gorbals.
• Expansion: The city boundaries were expanding, incorporating areas like Knightswood and Mosspark, which were being developed as garden suburbs to rehouse the population from overcrowded tenement districts.

Important Disclaimer regarding Maps

Please be aware that during the scanning of the original source material, the Map Section was found to be missing or too damaged to reproduce. Consequently, this product does not contain the street maps typically found at the rear of the directory. All textual directories, however, are complete.

Technical Details

• Format: PDF (High Quality Scans)
• Compatibility: Requires a PDF reader (Adobe Acrobat or similar).
• Search: Alphabetical arrangement; search function dependent on your PDF reader's on-the-fly OCR capabilities.