The Post Office Directory Of Glasgow 1917-1918

The Post Office Directory Of Glasgow 1917-1918 – Digital Download or CD

Product Description

Unlock the history of your ancestors and the "Second City of the Empire" with this complete, high-quality reproduction of The Post Office Directory of Glasgow 1917-1918. Perfect for genealogists, local historians, and anyone researching family trees, this directory offers a fascinating snapshot of life in Glasgow during the First World War.

Bridging the Census Gap

This directory is an invaluable resource for filling the void left by missing census records. With the 1911 Census being the last publicly available record before the 1921 Census (and the 1931 Census lost to fire), this 1917-1918 directory is essential for tracing family movements and occupations during the WWI era.

Navigating the Directory

Please note that this product consists of scanned images of the original pages. While the text is not embedded (meaning it is not instantly searchable in the same way as a modern Word document), the directory has been digitized in a format that is easy to navigate. Due to the structured, alphabetical nature of the listings, finding your relatives is straightforward. Furthermore, modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) now offer OCR (Optical Character Recognition) "on the fly," allowing you to use the search function within your reader software to locate names and keywords with ease.

What’s Inside the Directory?

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

• Street Directory: An alphabetical listing of streets, with house numbers and the head of the household or business occupying each property. This is crucial for locating family homes and seeing who the neighbors were.
• Commercial & Trades Directory: A classified list of businesses and tradesmen. Whether your ancestor was a boilermaker, a tea dealer, or a tailor, you will find them listed here under their specific trade.
• Court (Private Residents) Directory: An alphabetical list of private residents, often including their occupation and address. This section is primarily for the middle and upper classes, though it is comprehensive for the era.
• Official & Municipal Information: Details of the Glasgow Corporation, officials, churches, schools, hospitals, and public institutions of the time.

A Snapshot of Glasgow in 1917-1918

This directory captures Glasgow at a time of immense industrial output and social change. The city was the engine room of the British Empire, particularly known for its shipbuilding and heavy engineering.

• Industry: The Clyde shipyards were working at maximum capacity to support the war effort. You will find hundreds of listings for shipbuilders, engineers, and ironfounders.
• Football: The city was already obsessed with football. The directories list the grounds and officials for Rangers (who won the 1917-18 Scottish Cup and War Fund Shield) and Celtic, as well as smaller clubs like Third Lanark and Queen's Park.
• Famous Residents & Figures: While directories list thousands of citizens, this era saw the rise of industrialists who shaped the world. You may find references to Sir William Beardmore, the shipbuilder and aerospace pioneer, or the prominent shipping magnates of the era. It was also the time when John Logie Baird (inventor of television) was living in the area before his fame, though his earlier experiments were just beginning. Look out for the "Merchant City" elite who lived in the grand terraces of Blythswood Hill and Park Circus.

Interesting Facts

• Women in the Workforce: By 1917, with so many men away fighting, you may begin to see women listed in trade directories in roles previously dominated by men, such as clerks and tram conductors.
• The "Glasgow Pollok": You will find references to the Pollok estate and the Maxwell family, influential landowners of the time.
• Renfrewshire Boundary: The directory often includes the immediate surrounding suburbs which were absorbed into the growing city, offering a wider look at the Greater Glasgow area.

Important Disclaimer

Please be aware: The original publishers sometimes omitted maps from specific annual editions to cut costs during wartime. Consequently, some maps may be missing from this directory. Every effort has been made to include all available pages from the original source book.

Available Formats

This product is available as a Digital Download (instant access) or on a CD-ROM sent via post. Ideal for browsing on your computer, tablet, or printing out specific family records.