The last city directory in the "browse section" of Footnote for the Chicago city directories indicates it is [blank]. It appears to be at least two years of directories combined, perhaps more. I panned through several pages and the print looks different, seeming to indicate at least two directories have been combined in one entry. I did notice the following title pages (or at least what I thought were title pages:
Is anyone familiar enough with the Chicago city directories to know what years are in this "blank" set?
(Also posted to APG list)
ReplyDeleteYikes! On internal evidence, this appears to conglomerate the 1843 directory, the 1880 directory (which began with a Steinway promotional booklet -- compare
the actual 1880 directory filming), and the 1883 directory (per the
microfilming instructions on the last page) -- or at least, parts thereof. And at least the first couple dozen pages alternate between 1843 and 1880! (As a
sidelight, I see that the actual 1843 directory in its proper listing is presented out of order, with the title page and introductory matter well back
in the sequence.) I didn't find evidence of an 1867 element, but at this point it would hardly be surprising.
Fully untangling this mess would require a good deal of knowledge and time. But if one could somehow fully describe it before Footnote cleans it up, it would be a priceless if rather extreme example of why we can't treat or cite online and microfilm versions as being transparently the same as the print originals!
Harold