The Post Office Directory Of Glasgow 1939-1940

The Post Office Directory of Glasgow 1939-1940 - Digital Download or CD-ROM

Product Description:

Step back in time to the eve of the Second World War with this comprehensive facsimile of The Post Office Directory of Glasgow 1939-1940. This essential genealogy resource provides a fascinating snapshot of life in Scotland’s largest city during a pivotal moment in history.

Navigating the Directory This directory is a high-quality digital reproduction of the original scanned pages. While the files are images and not embedded with searchable text, the original publishers utilized a strict alphabetical structure for all sections, making navigation remarkably intuitive for researchers. Whether you are looking for a specific ancestor, a street, or a trade, you can quickly locate the relevant section. Furthermore, most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat or browser-based viewers) now feature "OCR on the fly," allowing you to use the search function within the software to find names and places across the images.

A Crucial Census Substitute For genealogists, this directory serves as a vital "census substitute." The 1931 Census for Scotland was destroyed during World War II, and no census was taken in 1941 due to the conflict. Consequently, the 1939-1940 directory bridges a significant gap in official records, offering one of the last complete demographic lists of Glasgow’s residents before the societal upheavals of the 1940s.

What’s Inside? This extensive volume is divided into user-friendly sections to help you pinpoint exactly what you need:

• Street Directory: An alphabetical listing of streets, with house numbers and the names of the head of households or businesses occupying each address. Perfect for mapping out who lived next door to your ancestors.
• Commercial/Trades Directory: A classified list of businesses and tradesmen. From bakers to shipbuilders, this section highlights the immense industrial diversity of "The Second City of the Empire."
• Private Residents Directory: An alphabetical list of the principal private citizens (heads of households) residing in Glasgow at the time.
• Official and Municipal Information: Details regarding the Corporation of Glasgow, magistrates, councilors, and public officials, offering insight into the city's governance on the brink of war.

Glasgow in 1939: Context and Curiosities Owning this directory is like holding a piece of social history. In 1939, Glasgow was the industrial powerhouse of the UK, but it was also a city on the edge of great change.

• Industry: The Clyde was the beating heart of the British Empire. Shipbuilding giants like John Brown & Co. in Clydebank were pivoting toward wartime production, and the city's heavy engineering works were gearing up for the conflict effort.
• Sport: The city was passionately devoted to football. In 1939, the Scottish Football League was suspended due to the outbreak of war, meaning this directory captures the players and officials of Rangers and Celtic just before the regional wartime leagues altered the sporting landscape forever.
• Famous Residents: Glasgow has always been home to influential figures. While privacy laws prevent listing every private individual, this era features figures such as Sir John Reith (the founder of the BBC, who was born in Stonehaven but deeply connected to Glasgow) and Sir Patrick Dollan (a former Lord Provost of Glasgow and a major figure in the Labour movement). You may also find entries relating to the family of John Logie Baird, the inventor of the television, who was born in Helensburgh but maintained strong business and family ties to the Glasgow area.
• The Empire Exhibition: Just a year prior, Glasgow had hosted the stunning Empire Exhibition at Bellahouston Park. This directory reflects the city's lingering pride and economic status following that massive international event.

Important Disclaimer regarding Maps: Please note that, unfortunately, the original source volume used for this reproduction was missing the fold-out street maps typically found at the beginning or end of the directory. Every effort has been made to preserve the rest of the content in its entirety, but the map pages are absent from this digital edition/CD.

Formats Available: This product is available as an Instant Digital Download or via CD-ROM sent by post, making it accessible whether you prefer immediate access or a physical backup.