The Post Office Directory Of Glasgow 1919-1920

The Post Office Directory of Glasgow 1919-1920 - Digital Download or CD

Product Description:

Step back into the vibrant and pivotal era of post-World War I Glasgow with this comprehensive reproduction of The Post Office Directory of Glasgow for the years 1919-1920. An essential resource for genealogists, local historians, and anyone researching family history in the "Second City of the Empire."

Navigating the Directory This directory is a high-quality scan of the original pages, preserving the authentic look and feel of the historic document. Because this is a collection of scanned images, the text is not embedded in the traditional sense. However, navigation is surprisingly simple:

1. Alphabetical Layout: The residential and commercial sections are arranged alphabetically, allowing you to scroll quickly to the surname you are looking for.
2. Modern Technology: While the file itself is an image scan, most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat or the built-in readers in browsers) perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly. This means you can often use the "Search" or "Find" function in your PDF viewer to locate specific names or keywords instantly.

Bridging the Census Gap This directory is an invaluable tool for filling the research void between the 1911 Census and the 1921 Census. While the 1911 Census provides a snapshot of family life before the Great War, the 1919-1920 Directory reveals the aftermath: who returned from the war, who had moved into the city, and how the residential landscape had shifted during the turbulent war years.

Inside This Directory This extensive volume is meticulously organized into several distinct sections to help you pinpoint your ancestors:

• Street Directory: A complete list of streets in Glasgow, showing the head of the household or business occupying each building. Perfect for tracing the history of a specific house.
• Alphabetical Directory (Residents): The core of the book, listing private residents, their occupations, and their full addresses.
• Commercial & Professional Directory: A classified trades section where you can find businesses by category (e.g., Engineers, Ironmongers, Spirit Merchants) as well as a professional directory for doctors, lawyers, and solicitors.
• Official & Municipal Directory: Listings for local government officials, churches, schools, public institutions, and societies.

Glasgow in 1919-1920: Context and Facts

• Industrial Powerhouse: Even after the devastating losses of WWI, Glasgow remained the engine room of the UK. The Clyde shipbuilding industry was busy transitioning from warships to merchant vessels, and the city’s heavy engineering and textile trades were thriving.
• The Football Giants: The passion for football was deep-seated. You will find references to the homes and workplaces of supporters of Rangers F.C. and Celtic F.C., both of whom were dominating the Scottish football landscape during this period.
• Housing and Social Change: 1919 was a landmark year for housing in Glasgow, following the "Rent Strikes" and the passage of the Housing Act. This directory captures the city just as massive expansion and rehousing projects were beginning to take shape.

Notable Residents & Famous Connections While the directory lists thousands of citizens, it includes the listings for the prominent figures who shaped the city. During this era, Glasgow was home or a base of operations for industrial magnates like Sir William Burrell, the shipping magnate and art collector whose collection would one day bear his name. You may also come across early listings or addresses associated with John Logie Baird, the inventor of television, who was active in the area around this time.

Important Disclaimer Please note that due to the age and condition of the original source material, some maps or plates may have been missing, damaged, or too faint to reproduce clearly from the original 1919-1920 directory. We have made every effort to include all available pages, but some cartographic elements may be absent from this digital/CD edition.

Reconnect with your Glasgow ancestors today with this fascinating snapshot of life in the immediate aftermath of the First World War.

Formats Available:

• Digital Download: (PDF format) - Instant access, no shipping costs.
• CD-ROM: Posted to your address (PDF files accessible via computer).