City Directory Glossary

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City directories often used abbreviations and shorthand to conserve space when listing residents, occupations, and addresses. Understanding these terms helps interpret household structure, employment, and residential patterns within urban communities.

Term / AbbreviationMeaning
Abbrev.Abbreviation
agt.Agent
appt.Appointment
asst.Assistant
bds.Boards; person boarding at address
bet.Between
bkpr.Bookkeeper
bldg.Building
blk.Block
bo.Boards
brklyr.Bricklayer
carp.Carpenter
cashr.Cashier
clk.Clerk
co.Company
collr.Collector
com. mer.Commission merchant
contr.Contractor
dept.Department
dir.Directory
dist.District
drv.Driver
emp.Employee
eng.Engineer
est.Estate
expressmanPerson transporting goods
foremanWork supervisor
gro.Grocer
hHouse; resides at address
h.House
ins.Insurance
lab.Laborer
lodgerPerson renting room
mgr.Manager
mfr.Manufacturer
mkr.Maker
moverFurniture mover
nr.Near
opp.Opposite
phys.Physician
propr.Proprietor
pub.Publisher
rResides
real est.Real estate
res.Residence
roomerPerson renting room
sec.Secretary
supt.Superintendent
tchr.Teacher
treas.Treasurer
wid.Widow
wks.Works (employed at)
wkr.Worker

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