The Post Office Directory of Glasgow 1931-1932 (Digital Download or CD)

The Ultimate Census Substitute for Interwar Glasgow

Are you tracing your family tree in Glasgow and hit a brick wall? The 1931 Census for Scotland was destroyed in a fire during World War II, and no census was taken in 1941 due to the war. This makes the Post Office Directory of Glasgow 1931-1932 an absolutely essential resource for bridging the 30-year gap between the 1921 and 1951 censuses.

Step back into the era of the "Second City of the Empire" and locate your ancestors, their occupations, and their exact addresses with this fascinating historical snapshot.

Product Format & Navigation

This directory is a high-quality digital reproduction of the original book, available as an Instant Digital Download or on a CD.

• Scanned Images: The directory consists of scanned images of the original pages, preserving the authentic look and typography of the 1930s.
• Navigability: While the text is not embedded (making it not immediately searchable via a simple "Ctrl+F"), the directory is alphabetically arranged by section, making navigation incredibly intuitive—just like using the original book!
• Modern Tech Compatibility: Did you know? Most modern PDF readers (like Adobe Acrobat or the built-in readers in Chrome and Edge) now perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly. This means you can often use the search function in your viewer to find names, and you can select and copy text from the images.

What’s Inside the Directory?

This comprehensive volume is divided into essential sections to help you paint a full picture of your ancestor's life:

1. Street Directory: Listings for streets in alphabetical order, showing the head of household or business occupying each property. Perfect for mapping out who the neighbors were.
2. Commercial/Trades Directory: An alphabetical list of trades and professions (e.g., Bakers, Engineers, Shipbuilders) followed by the individuals practicing them. Ideal for understanding the local economy.
3. Name (Private Residents) Directory: An alphabetical list of private residents, their occupations, and their addresses.
4. Official & Institutional Directory: Listings for churches, schools, societies, public offices, and municipal departments.

Glasgow in 1931: Historical Context & Facts

Understanding the era helps bring your ancestors to life. In 1931, Glasgow was a bustling industrial giant, though the early effects of the Great Depression were beginning to show.

• Industry: Glasgow was the shipbuilding capital of the world. The River Clyde was a hive of activity, with massive shipyards like John Brown’s (where the Queen Mary would later be built) and Harland and Wolff dominating the economy.
• Sport: The city was football mad. This era saw the dominance of Rangers F.C. and Celtic F.C.. Rangers were in the midst of a highly successful period under manager Bill Struth, while Celtic played at the massive Celtic Park.
• Famous Residents: During this time, the city was home or birthplace to notable figures such as Sir John Logie Baird (the inventor of television), Sir William Burrell (the shipping magnate and art collector), and Sir James Lithgow (the leading industrialist of the era).
• Architecture & Culture: 1931 saw the city planning for the future, with the stunning Art Deco architecture of the era (like the Daily Record building) defining the skyline. The Glasgow University Tower was a recent addition to the city’s silhouette.

Important Disclaimer

Please note: Due to the age and condition of the original source material used for scanning, some pages, advertisements, or fold-out maps may be missing, torn, or damaged in the original publication. We have made every effort to provide the most complete reproduction possible.