The Post Office Directory Of Glasgow 1930-1931

The Post Office Directory of Glasgow 1930-1931 – Digital Download & CD Edition

Product Description:

Step back into the vibrant era of interwar Glasgow with this complete facsimile of The Post Office Directory of Glasgow 1930-1931. Whether you are a family historian, a local researcher, or simply fascinated by the "Second City of the Empire," this directory offers an unparalleled snapshot of life in Glasgow just as the city navigated the challenges of the Great Depression.

This essential genealogical resource is available as a high-quality digital download or on a convenient CD, ready for you to explore from the comfort of your home.

Navigating the Directory

Please note: This directory consists of high-resolution scanned images of the original pages and is not a text-searchable database in the traditional sense. However, don't let that deter you! The directory is meticulously organized alphabetically, making locating specific streets, trades, or surnames straightforward and intuitive.

Tech Tip: While the file itself is an image scan, many modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat and browser-based viewers) now perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) "on the fly." This often allows you to use the search function (Ctrl+F) to find names and keywords, even though the original file is image-based.

Why You Need This Directory: Bridging the Census Gap

For UK genealogists, the 1930s represent a "dark period." The 1931 Census for England and Wales was destroyed during WWII, and there was no census taken in 1941 due to the war. While the 1931 Scottish Census survives, it remains closed to the public due to the 100-year rule. Consequently, trade directories like this are often the only way to trace ancestors and residents during this specific decade.

Inside the Directory: A Detailed Breakdown

This comprehensive volume is divided into distinct sections to help you pinpoint exactly who lived where and what they did:

1. Street Directory: An invaluable tool for house historians. Listings are arranged by street name, followed by house numbers, and finally the head of the household or business occupying the property. This allows you to visualize entire neighborhoods.
2. Commercial & Trades Directory: Find your ancestors by their profession. From engineers and shipbuilders to bakers and grocers, this section lists businesses alphabetically by trade.
3. General (Alphabetical) Directory: The main resident directory. Listed by surname, this provides the name, occupation, and address of thousands of Glasgow's citizens, from the wealthy merchants of the West End to the working-class residents in the tenements.
4. Official & Municipal Information: A fascinating section detailing the city’s governance, including lists of officials, magistrates, council members, and public services.
5. Institutions & Societies: Churches, schools, charities, and hospitals, perfect for understanding the community structure your ancestors were part of.

Glasgow in 1930: Industry, Sport, and Notable Figures

This directory captures Glasgow at a turning point. Despite the economic hardships of the 1930s, the city remained an industrial powerhouse.

• Industry: As the engine room of the British Empire, Glasgow was famous for shipbuilding on the River Clyde. You will find entries for major industrialists and workers associated with giants like John Brown’s and Harland and Wolff. The city was also a hub for locomotive manufacturing and heavy engineering.
• Sport: The passion for football was undeniable. The directory lists players and officials associated with the giants of the Scottish game. Rangers and Celtic were dominating the sporting landscape, and you may find traces of legendary players of the era, such as Alan Morton (Rangers) or Jimmy McGrory (Celtic), residing in the city during the peak of their careers.
• Famous Residents & Connections: While tracking specific celebrities can be a thrill, this era saw many famous Glaswegians walking these streets. Sir John Reith, the founder of the BBC and a Glasgow native, would have been a prominent figure. John Logie Baird, the inventor of the television, was born in Helensburgh but maintained strong business and family connections in Glasgow, likely listed through his associates or family firms. Sir Harry Lauder, the famous entertainer, though semi-retired, still maintained a residence in the area.

Important Disclaimer

Please be aware that during the scanning of the original source material, certain maps were found to be missing. Every effort has been made to preserve the integrity of the text directories, but the map pages originally included in the volume were absent from the source document used for this reproduction.