Brooklyn directories facts for kids
For Manhattan and New York City prior to 1898, see New York City directories. For Queens, see Queens directories.
On January 1, 1898, New York City grew much larger. It added areas like the East Bronx, Brooklyn, parts of Queens County, and Staten Island. Before this, Brooklyn was a big city on its own, and it was even a rival to New York City in the mid-1800s!
This article is about directories for Brooklyn. A directory is like an old-fashioned phone book or a list of businesses and people. They help us learn about how Brooklyn used to be.
Contents
Key Moments in Brooklyn's Directory History
This section highlights important dates and people who created Brooklyn's directories.
Early Publishers and Important People
- 1822: Alden Spooner (1783–1848) published the very first full directory for Brooklyn. His granddaughter, Caroline Augusta Huling (1856–1941), became a well-known journalist and helper in the community.
- 1859: The printing company Wynkoop, Hallenbeck & Thomas started. It was founded by Matthew Bennett Wynkoop (1830–1895), John Johnson Hallenbeck (1817–1891), and John Thomas. They were important printers.
- 1873: Frederick William Beers (1839–1933) was a mapmaker who created the Atlas of Long Island. This atlas was special because it showed who owned properties, where buildings were, and what businesses existed.
Connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan
- 1883: The famous Brooklyn Bridge opened on May 24, 1883. This was a huge deal! It was the first bridge to connect Brooklyn to Lower Manhattan across the East River.
- 1909: The Manhattan Bridge opened on December 31, 1909. It also crosses the East River and connects Brooklyn to Lower Manhattan. These two bridges helped people travel easily between the two areas.
What are Brooklyn Directories?
Brooklyn directories are old books that listed people, businesses, and other useful information about the city of Brooklyn. They are like historical phone books or yellow pages. These books help historians and curious people understand what life was like in Brooklyn many years ago.
General Brooklyn Directories
These directories listed many residents and businesses in Brooklyn.
| Year | Title | Printer | Compiler(s) | Google Books |
HathiTrust | Internet Archive |
Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1796 |
Brooklyn Directory (3 pages, only)
|
John Buel (1768–1800) John Bull (printers) Re-published by John Disturnell (1801–1877) |
John Low | ||||
| 1823 | Spooner's Brooklyn Directory | Alden Spooner (1783–1848) (publisher) |
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| 1833–1834 |
Brooklyn Directory of 1833–34
|
Brooklyn Daily Eagle (publisher) (1934 re-print) |
(courtesy ) |
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| 1839 |
Brooklyn Directory for the Years 1839–40
|
Henry Lot Ogden (1800–1888) (publisher) Arnold & Van Anden (Samuel G. Arnold; 1806–1891) (Isaac Van Anden; 1812–1875) (printer) |
Henry Lot Ogden (compiler) |
Harvard | |||
| 1843 |
Brooklyn Alphabetical and Street Directory, and Yearly Advertiser for 1843 & 4 (Vol. 2)
|
Thomas Leslie Henry R. Hearne William J. Hearne (co-publisher) Stationers' Hall Works (co-publisher) |
Thomas Leslie Henry R. Hearne William J. Hearne (compiler) |
HathiTrust | |||
| 1848 |
Brooklyn City Directory and Annual Advertiser, for the Years 1848 & 9
|
E.B. Spooner (Edwin Bolton Spooner; 1808–1876) (publisher) F.B. Spooner (Frances Bowman Spooner; 1798–1862) (printer) |
Thomas P. Teale (compiler) |
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| 1850 |
Hearnes' Brooklyn Directory for 1850–1851 (Vol. 9)
|
Henry R. and William J. Hearne (publisher) Lees & Foulkes (Henry A. Lees; died 1851) (printer) |
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| 1852 |
Hearnes' Brooklyn Directory for 1852–1853 (Vol. 11)
|
Henry R. and William J. Hearne (publisher) William L. Foulkes (printer) |
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| 1853 |
Hearnes' Brooklyn Directory for 1853–1854 (Vol. 12)
|
Henry R. and William J. Hearne (publisher) William L. Foulkes (printer) |
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| 1856 | Smith's Brooklyn Directory | William H. Smith (publisher) |
William H. Smith (compiler) |
Internet Archive | |||
| 1857 | Smith's Brooklyn Directory | Charles Jenkins (publisher) | William H. Smith (compiler) |
Internet Archive | |||
| 1858 |
The Brooklyn City Directory
|
J. Lain & Company (Jonathan Lain; 1813–1867) (publisher) Edward O. Jenkins (printer) |
J. Lain (compiler) |
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| 1862 |
The Brooklyn City Directory
|
J. Lain & Company (publisher) Wynkoop, Hallenbeck & Thomas (Matthew B. Wynkoop) (John J. Hallenbeck) (William E. Hallenbeck) (printers) |
J. Lain (compiler) |
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| 1863 |
The Brooklyn City Directory
|
J. Lain & Company (publisher) Wynkoop, Hallenbeck & Thomas (printers) |
J. Lain (compiler) |
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| 1864 |
The Brooklyn City Directory
|
J. Lain & Company (publisher) |
J. Lain (compiler) |
HathiTrust | |||
| 1865 |
The Brooklyn City Directory
|
J. Lain & Company (publisher) Wynkoop & Hallenbeck (printer) |
J. Lain (compiler) |
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| 1866 |
The Brooklyn City Directory
|
J. Lain & Company (publisher) Wynkoop & Hallenbeck (printer) |
J. Lain (compiler) |
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| 1867 |
The Brooklyn City Directory
|
J. Lain & Company (publisher) Wynkoop & Hallenbeck (printer) |
J. Lain (compiler) |
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| 1868 |
The Brooklyn City Directory
|
J. Lain & Company (publisher) |
George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (compiler) |
HathiTrust | |||
| 1878 | Lain's Brooklyn Directory | Lain & Company George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (proprietor) |
George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (compiler) |
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| 1879 | Lain's Brooklyn Directory | Lain & Company George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (proprietor) |
George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (compiler) |
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| 1883 | Lain's Brooklyn Directory | Lain & Company George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (proprietor) |
George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (compiler) Charles J. Healy (1857–1933) (assistant compiler) |
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| 1884 | Lain's Brooklyn Directory | Lain & Company George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (proprietor) |
George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (compiler) Charles J. Healy (1857–1933) (assistant compiler) |
Internet Archive | |||
| 1884–1885 | Lain's Brooklyn City Directory | Lain & Company | Internet Archive | ||||
| 1886 | Lain's Brooklyn Directory | Lain & Company George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (proprietor) |
George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (compiler) Charles J. Healy (1857–1933) (assistant compiler) |
Internet Archive | |||
| 1887 | Lain's Brooklyn Directory | Lain & Company George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (proprietor) |
George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (compiler) Charles J. Healy (1857–1933) (assistant compiler) |
Internet Archive | |||
| 1889 | Lain's Brooklyn Directory | Lain & Company George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) Charles J. Healy (1857–1933) (proprietors) |
Internet Archive | ||||
| 1897 | Lain & Healy's Brooklyn Directory | Lain & Company K.C. Lain Charles J. Healy (1857–1933) (proprietors) |
Internet Archive | ||||
| 1899 | Lain & Healy's Brooklyn Directory | Lain & Company K.C. Lain Charles J. Healy (1857–1933) (proprietors) |
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| 1902 |
Upington's General Directory Borough of Brooklyn (Vol. 79)
|
George Paul Upington (1850–1910) (publisher) |
George Paul Upington (1850–1910) (compiler) |
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| 1903 |
Upington's General Directory Borough of Brooklyn (Vol. 80)
|
George Paul Upington (1850–1910) (publisher) |
George Paul Upington (1850–1910) (compiler) |
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| 1904 |
Upington's General Directory Borough of Brooklyn (Vol. 81)
|
George Paul Upington (1850–1910) (publisher) |
George Paul Upington (1850–1910) (compiler) |
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| 1905 |
Upington's General Directory Borough of Brooklyn (Vol. 82)
|
George Paul Upington (1850–1910) (publisher) |
George Paul Upington (1850–1910) (compiler) |
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| 1906 |
Upington's General Directory Borough of Brooklyn (Vol. 83)
|
George Paul Upington (1850–1910) (publisher) |
George Paul Upington (1850–1910) (compiler) |
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| 1907 |
Upington's General Directory Borough of Brooklyn (Vol. 84)
|
George Paul Upington (1850–1910) (publisher) |
George Paul Upington (1850–1910) (compiler) |
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| 1908 |
Upington's General Directory Borough of Brooklyn (Vol. 85)
|
George Paul Upington (1850–1910) (publisher) |
George Paul Upington (1850–1910) (compiler) |
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| 1909 |
Upington's General Directory Borough of Brooklyn (Vol. 86)
|
George Paul Upington (1850–1910) (publisher) |
George Paul Upington (1850–1910) (compiler) |
HathiTrust | Part 2 |
||
| 1912 |
The Brooklyn City Directory (Vol. 88)
|
Brooklyn Directory Co. (publisher) |
Business Directories: Finding Companies in Old Brooklyn
These directories focused on businesses and companies in Brooklyn.
| Year | Title | Printer | Compiler(s) | Google Books |
HathiTrust | Internet Archive |
Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1869 |
The Brooklyn City and Business Directory
|
Lain & Company (publisher) Wynkoop & Hallenbeck (printer) |
George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (compiler) |
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| 1870 |
The Brooklyn City and Business Directory
|
Lain & Company (publisher) Wynkoop & Hallenbeck (printer) |
George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (compiler) |
HathiTrust | |||
| 1871 |
The Brooklyn City and Business Directory
|
Lain & Company (publisher) |
George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (compiler) |
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| 1872–1873 |
Curtin's Brooklyn Business Directory
|
D. Curtin (publisher) |
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| 1873–1874 |
Curtin's Brooklyn Business Directory
|
D. Curtin (publisher) |
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| 1875 |
For Goulding's 1875 business directory, see → New York City directories § Business directories
|
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| 1875 |
The Brooklyn City and Business Directory
|
Lain & Company (publisher) |
George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (compiler) |
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| 1876 |
The Brooklyn City and Business Directory
|
Lain & Company (publisher) |
George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (compiler) |
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| 1878–1879 |
Lain's Directory of Long Island – Including a Business Directory of Brooklyn, Long Island City, and the Towns of Kings County, Bath, Bay Ridge, Canarsie, Coney Island, East New York, Flatbush, Flatlands, Fort Hamilton, Gravesend, Guntherville, New Utrecht, Parkville, Sheepshead Bay, and Unionville;
Together With a General Directory of Amityville, Babylon, Bay Ridge, Bay Side, Breslau, Bridgehampton, College Point, East Hampton, East Williamsburgh, Farmingdale, Flatbush, Flushing, Fort Hamilton, Freeport, Garden City, Glen Cove, Greenport, Hempstead, Hicksville, Huntington, Islip, Jamaica, Jericho, Locust Valley, Maspeth, Mattituck, Mineola, Newtown, Northport, Oyster Bay, Parkville, Patchogue, Pearsalls, Port Jefferson, Queens, Riverhead, Rockaway, Rockville Centre, Roslyn, Sag Harbor, Sayville, Shelter Island, Southampton, Southold, Springfield, Stoney Brook, Valley Stream, West Hampton, Whitestone, Winfield, Woodhaven, Woodsburgh
|
Lain & Company (publisher) |
George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (compiler) |
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| 1880 |
The Brooklyn City and Business Directory
|
Lain & Company (publisher) |
George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) (compiler) |
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| 1883 |
The Brooklyn Directory – A Business Directory
|
Lain & Company | Internet Archive | ||||
| 1890–1991 |
Lain's Business Directory of Brooklyn, Kings County, Long Island City, Jamaica, Far Rockaway, Flushing, College Point, Hempstead, Newtown and Whitestone
|
Lain & Company George Theodore Lain (1844–1893) Charles J. Healy (1857–1933) (proprietors) |
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| 1899 |
Trow's Business Directory of the Borough of Brooklyn, City of New York
|
Trow Directory, Printing & Bookbinding Co. (printer & Publisher) |
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Other Types of Directories
- Copartnership Directories: These books listed businesses that were run by two or more partners.
- Elite Directories: These were like "who's who" books, listing important or well-known people in Brooklyn society.
- Street Directories: These books helped people find addresses and navigate the streets of Brooklyn.
- Citizens and Strangers' Guides: These guides were for both residents and visitors, offering information about the city and its surroundings.
- Blue Books: Similar to elite directories, these listed members of high society.
- Almanacs: These books contained general information, facts about the world, and specific details about New York City and Long Island.
- Telephone Directories: Just like modern phone books, these listed telephone numbers for people and businesses.
- Public School Directories: These books provided information about Brooklyn's schools.
- Charities, Social Services, and Church Directories: These listed organizations that helped people, as well as churches.
- Maritime Directories: These focused on information related to the harbor and waterfront.
- Cemetery Directories: These books provided details about cemeteries in and around Brooklyn.
- Brooklyn History Books: Some books focused on the history of Brooklyn itself.
- Brooklyn Maps: Maps helped people find their way around and understand the layout of the city.
- State Directories: These listed information about businesses and industries across New York State, including Brooklyn.
Selected Brooklyn Directories Not Found Online
Some old Brooklyn directories are not available to view online. Here is one example:
- Hope & Henderson's
- ; .
Images for kids
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A large map of Long Island from 1873, showing Brooklyn.
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Maps from 1873 showing the old Brooklyn communities of New Utrecht and Bath.
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Maps from 1873 showing the old Brooklyn communities of Gravesend, Flatlands, New Utrecht, and Unionville.
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Maps from 1873 showing the old Brooklyn communities of Gravesend, Flatlands, New Utrecht, Unionville, and Guntherville.
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Brooklyn directories Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.