Free Online British Columbia City Directories

City and business directories are available online from all over the U.S. and Canada and are what I consider another important set of information that can assist you in advancing your family history and genealogy research.

This activity of presenting links is a collaborative effort between The Ancestor Hunt and Miriam Robbins, who for years has made available the Online Historical Directories website, which presents links to directories of all types that are available online, including free collections as well as those available only via subscription. I wish to thank Miriam for her help in launching this category of records at The Ancestor Hunt.

So, what kinds of directories are available to the researcher?  Naturally city and business directories, but also telephone directories, and alumni, farm, lodge, rural, and social directories.

What can you find in these records? How about:

• Full names, including middle names
• Spouse name
• Occupation
• Widows, working women, and adult children at home.
• Maps
• Businesses (and index to advertisers).
• Addresses and maps of churches, schools, funeral homes, cemeteries, post offices, courts, hospitals, benevolent associations, newspapers.
• Whether a woman is a widow (including name of husband).
• List of marriages and deaths of previous year.
• Death date.
• etc.

Here are a few good primers on the benefits of searching historical city and other directories:​

• FamilySearch – Canada Directories
• How to Use City Directories In Your Genealogy Research 
• What’s In A City Directory? (a 10 article series about City Directories)

Note: Some links listed take you to a FamilySearch Collection of digital images. Near the bottom of the page under Film/Digital Notes is the name of each sub-collection. If there is a camera icon at the right of the name (in the Format column) then the collections’ images are browsable. If there is a camera with a key icon, it is only available at a Family History Center or affiliated library. If there is a film reel icon, then it is only available in microfilm format, not digital. To take full advantage make sure that you are logged in to FamilySearch. The results may be different if you are signed in, rather than not.

(Updated October 2022)

Links to these free collections are presented initially with countrywide and provincewide collections, followed in alphabetical order by city or county. Please note that many of the counties no longer exist, but are now districts or regional municipalities. Generally, the publishing company is included in the reference to the collection, along with the collection title, and the date(s) of the directory:

Countrywide

• Business Directory of Canada West Directory 1851
• Canada classified Directory 1865-66
• Canada Directory 1851
• Canada Directory 1857-58
• Canada Gazetteer and Business Directory 1864-1865
• Canadian Dominion Directory for Directory 1871
• Canadian Professional and Business Directory, Mackay, 1851
• Dominion Business Directory 1890 — From Internet Archive
• Halifax, Amherst, Charlottetown, Dartmouth, Chatham, Fredericton, Kentville, Moncton, New Glasgow, Sydney, N. Sydney, Pictou, Quebec, St. John, St. Stephen, Summerside, Yarmouth, Woodstock, Truro, Windsor Directory 1900
• Mitchell & Co.’s Canada Classified Directory for 1865-66
• Supplement to the Directory 1851 Canada Directory 1853
• The Canadian Legal Directory 1878

Provincewide

• BC Mercantile Agency Reference Book 1893
• British Columbia and Yukon Directory 1935
• British Columbia and Yukon Directory 1936
• British Columbia and Yukon Directory 1937
• British Columbia and Yukon Directory 1938
• British Columbia and Yukon Directory 1939
• British Columbia and Yukon Directory 1940
• British Columbia and Yukon Directory 1941
• British Columbia and Yukon Directory 1942
• British Columbia and Yukon Directory 1943
• British Columbia and Yukon Directory 1944
• British Columbia and Yukon Directory 1945
• British Columbia and Yukon Directory 1946
• British Columbia and Yukon Directory 1947
• British Columbia and Yukon Directory 1948
• British Columbia City Directories, 1860
• British Columbia City Directories, 1863
• British Columbia City Directories, 1867
• British Columbia City Directories, 1868
• British Columbia City Directories, 1869
• British Columbia City Directories, 1871
• British Columbia City Directories, 1874
• British Columbia City Directories, 1875
• British Columbia City Directories, 1877
• British Columbia City Directories, 1877-1878
• British Columbia City Directories, 1880-1881
• British Columbia City Directories, 1882-1883
• British Columbia City Directories, 1883-1884
• British Columbia City Directories, 1884-1885
• British Columbia City Directories, 1887
• British Columbia City Directories, 1888
• British Columbia City Directories, 1889
• British Columbia City Directories, 1890
• British Columbia City Directories, 1891
• British Columbia City Directories, 1892
• British Columbia City Directories, 1892-1893
• British Columbia City Directories, 1894
• British Columbia City Directories, 1895
• British Columbia City Directories, 1896
• British Columbia City Directories, 1897
• British Columbia City Directories, 1898
• British Columbia City Directories, 1899
• British Columbia City Directories, 1899-1900
• British Columbia City Directories, 1900-1901
• British Columbia City Directories, 1901
• British Columbia City Directories, 1902
• British Columbia City Directories, 1903
• British Columbia City Directories, 1904
• British Columbia City Directories, 1905
• British Columbia City Directories, 1906
• British Columbia City Directories, 1907
• British Columbia City Directories, 1908
• British Columbia City Directories, 1909
• British Columbia City Directories, 1910
• British Columbia City Directories, 1910-1911
• British Columbia City Directories, 1911
• British Columbia City Directories, 1912
• British Columbia City Directories, 1913
• British Columbia City Directories, 1914
• British Columbia City Directories, 1915
• British Columbia City Directories, 1916
• British Columbia City Directories, 1917
• British Columbia City Directories, 1918
• British Columbia City Directories, 1919
• British Columbia City Directories, 1920
• British Columbia City Directories, 1921
• British Columbia City Directories, 1922
• British Columbia City Directories, 1923
• British Columbia City Directories, 1924
• British Columbia City Directories, 1925
• British Columbia City Directories, 1926
• British Columbia City Directories, 1927
• British Columbia City Directories, 1928
• British Columbia City Directories, 1929
• British Columbia City Directories, 1930
• British Columbia City Directories, 1931
• British Columbia City Directories, 1932
• British Columbia City Directories, 1933
• British Columbia City Directories, 1934
• British Columbia City Directories, 1935
• British Columbia City Directories, 1936
• British Columbia City Directories, 1937
• British Columbia City Directories, 1938
• British Columbia City Directories, 1939
• British Columbia City Directories, 1940
• British Columbia City Directories, 1941
• British Columbia City Directories, 1942
• British Columbia City Directories, 1943
• British Columbia City Directories, 1944
• British Columbia City Directories, 1945
• British Columbia City Directories, 1946
• British Columbia City Directories, 1947
• British Columbia City Directories, 1948
• British Columbia City Directories, 1948-1949
• British Columbia City Directories, 1949
• British Columbia City Directories, 1949-1950
• British Columbia City Directories, 1950
• British Columbia City Directories, 1950-1951
• British Columbia City Directories, 1951
• British Columbia City Directories, 1951-1952
• British Columbia City Directories, 1952
• British Columbia City Directories, 1953
• British Columbia City Directories, 1953-1954
• British Columbia City Directories, 1954
• British Columbia City Directories, 1955
• British Columbia Directory 1882-1883
• British Columbia Directory 1882-1883
• British Columbia directory 1882-1883 
• British Columbia Directory 1884-1885
• British Columbia Directory 1884-1885
• British Columbia directory 1884-1885 
• British Columbia Directory 1887
• British Columbia Directory 1887
• British Columbia directory 1887 
• British Columbia Directory of Mines by Archer Martin 1897 
• British Columbia Guide and Directory 1863
• British Columbia, province Directory, 183
• British Columbia, province Directory, 1882-83
• British Columbian and Victoria Guide and Directory for 1863 
• Business Directory and gazetteer of the west coast of America, 1882/ 83
• Business Directory and Gazetteer of the West Coast of America, 1882-1883 
• Directory of British Columbia Industries 1923
• Directory of British Columbia Products 1921
• Disturnell’s business directory and gazetteer of the West Coast of North America, 1882-1883
• Disturnell’s Business Directory of the West Coast 1882-1883
• Guide to the Province of B.C. 1877-1878
• Handbook almanac for the Pacific states : an official register and business directory, 1863
• Henderson’s B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1889
• Henderson’s B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1890
• Henderson’s B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1891
• Henderson’s B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1897
• Henderson’s B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1898
• Henderson’s B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1899-1900
• Henderson’s B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1900-1901
• Henderson’s B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1901
• Henderson’s B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1902
• Henderson’s B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1903
• Henderson’s B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1904
• Henderson’s B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1905
• Henderson’s B.C. Gazetteer and Directory 1910
• Henderson’s British Columbia gazeteer and Directory for 1890
• Henderson’s British Columbia gazetteer and Directory  for the year 1889
• Henderson’s British Columbia gazetteer and directory – volume 4 (1897)
• Henderson’s British Columbia gazetteer and directory – volume 5 (1898)
• Henderson’s British Columbia gazetteer and directory – volume 6 (1899-1900)
• Henderson’s British Columbia gazetteer and directory – volume 7 (1900-1901)
• Henderson’s British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory 1889 
• Henderson’s British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory 1890 
• Henderson’s British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory 1891
• Henderson’s British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory 1891 
• Henderson’s British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory 1897
• Henderson’s British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory 1898
• Henderson’s British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory 1899-1900
• Henderson’s British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory 1899-1900
• Henderson’s British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory 1900-1901
• Henderson’s British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory and Mining Companies 1898 
• Henderson’s British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory and Mining Companies 1899-1900 
• Henderson’s British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory and Mining Companies 1899-1900 
• Henderson’s British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory and Mining Companies 1900-1901 
• Henderson’s British Columbia Gazetteer and Directory and Mining Encyclopædia for 1897 
• Lynch’s Ready Guide 1892-1893
• McKenney’s Pacific coast Directory 1878
• McKenney’s Pacific Coast Directory 1883-1884
• McKenney’s Pacific Coast Directory 1883-1884 
• McKenney’s Pacific Coast Directory 1886-87
• McKenney’s Pacific coast Directory for 1883-4
• McKenney’s Pacific Coast directory, 1883-1884
• Mercantile Guide to the Cities of the USA and Northwest 1894
• Merchants Agency Red Book 1896
• Northern British Columbia Index and Guide 1916
• Northern British Columbia Index and Guide 1920
• Pacific Coast Business Directory 1867
• Pacific Coast Business Directory 1867
• Pacific coast Business Directory 1867 
• Pacific Coast business directory, 1867
• Pacific Coast Directory 1880-1881
• Pacific coast directory 1880-1881 
• Pacific Coast Shippers’ Index 1877
• Puget Sound Directory 1887
• R.L. Polk & Co.’s Puget Sound directory 1887 
• R.L. Polk & Co’s Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Alaska and British Columbia gazetteers and business directories, 1886-1902
• San Francisco Dept Directory 1860
• Sun British Columbia Directory 1934
• The British Columbia and Yukon directory – 1938
• The British Columbia and Yukon directory – 1946
• The British Columbia Directory for 1884-85
• The British Columbia Directory for the years 1882-83
• The British Columbia Directory, 1887
• The Directory of mines by Alexander Begg 1897 
• The New West 1888
• The Pacific Coast business Directory 1876/78
• The Pacific coast business Directory for 1867
• The Williams’ official British Columbia Directory 1894
• The Williams’ official British Columbia Directory 1894
• The Williams’ official British Columbia Directory, 1895
• The Williams’ official British Columbia Directory, 1897-8
• The Williams’ official British Columbia Directory, 1899
• Williams’ B.C. Directory 1889
• Williams’ British Columbia 1891 
• Williams’ British Columbia 1892 
• Williams’ British Columbia directory 1889 
• Williams’ British Columbia Directory 1891
• Williams’ British Columbia Directory, 1889
• Williams’ British Columbia Directory, 1891
• Williams’ Illustrated Official B.C. Directory 1892
• Williams’ illustrated official British Columbia Directory, 1892
• Williams’ Official B.C. Directory 1893
• Williams’ Official B.C. Directory 1894
• Williams’ Official B.C. Directory 1895
• Williams’ Official B.C. Directory 1897-1898
• Williams’ Official B.C. Directory 1899
• Williams’ official British Columbia 1893 
• Williams’ official British Columbia 1894 
• Williams’ official British Columbia 1895 
• Williams’ official British Columbia 1897-1898 
• Williams’ official British Columbia 1899 
• Wrigley Henderson Amalgamated BC Directory 1924
• Wrigley Henderson Amalgamated British Columbia Directory 1925
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1918
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1918
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1919
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1919
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1919
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1920
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1920
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1920
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1921
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1921
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1922
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1922
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1922
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1923
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1926
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1927
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1928
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1929
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1930
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1931
• Wrigley’s British Columbia Directory 1932​

Chilliwack

• Chilliwack and East Fraser Valley Directory 1955

Cranbrook and East Kootenay

• Cranbrook and East Kootenay Directory 1953-1954

Fraser Valley

• Fraser Valley Directory 1953

Kamloops

• Henderson’s Kamloops Directory 1914
• Kamloops and District Directory 1914
• Kamloops City and District Directory 1952
• Kamloops City and District Directory 1954
• Kamloops City Directory 1913
• Kamloops City Directory 1949-1950
• Kamloops Wawa Directory 1895 

Kelowna

• Kelowna City and Central Okanagan Directory 1954
• Kelowna City and District Directory 1951-1952
• Kelowna City Directory 1948
• Kelowna City Directory 1949-1950

Kootenay

• Southeast Kootenay Directory 1914

Nanaimo

• Nanaimo Directory 1882
• Nanaimo Directory 1892

Nelson

• Nelson City and District Directory 1914
• Nelson City Directory 1913
• Nelson City Directory 1950-1951
• Nelson City Kootenay and Boundary Directory 1915
• Nelson Directory 1955

New Westminster

• Directory New Westminster and Fraser Valley 1908
• Directory New Westminster and Fraser Valley 1909
• New Westminster and Burrard Inlet Telephone Directory 1890

Okanagan

• Orchard’s Guide and directory to the Okanagan 1909

Penticton

• Penticton City and District Directory 1951
• Penticton City and District Directory 1954
• Penticton City Directory 1949-1950

Prince George

• Prince George and Northern British Columbia Directory 1955
• Prince George City and District Directory 1951
• Prince George City and Northern British Columbia Directory 1954

Prince Rupert

• Henderson’s Prince Rupert City Directory 1910-1911
• Henderson’s Prince Rupert City Directory 1913
• Henderson’s Prince Rupert Directory 1914
• Prince Rupert Directory 1950-1951
• Prince Rupert Directory 1953
• Prince Rupert Directory Including Northwest Coast 1955
• Wrigley’s Prince Rupert and Stewart City Directory 1925

Revelstoke

• Pettipiece’s Directory and Map of Revelstoke 1899
• Pettipiece’s Revelstoke 1899 
• Pettipiece’s Revelstoke directory 1897 
• Revelstoke 1898 
• Revelstoke City Directory 1898
• Revelstoke Directory 1897

Rossland

• First History of Rossland 1890
• Rossland business directory 1896-1897 
• Rossland Business Directory 1897

Saanich Peninsula

• A directory of the northern part of the Saanich peninsula 1914 
• Directory of the Northern Part of the Saanich Peninsula 1914
• Directory of the Northern Part of the Saanich Peninsula 1914 (2nd)

Vancouver

• City of Vancouver – Terminus of the CPR 1887
• Directory of Vancouver Island 1909
• Elite Directory of Vancouver 1908
• Elite Directory of Vancouver 1908 
• Greater Vancouver and New Westminster City Directory 1949
• Greater Vancouver Social and Club Register 1927
• Henderson’s City of Vancouver and North Vancouver Directory 1909
• Henderson’s City of Vancouver and North Vancouver Directory 1910
• Henderson’s City of Vancouver Directory 1890
• Henderson’s city of Vancouver Directory for 1890
• Henderson’s Greater Vancouver City Directory 1913
• Henderson’s Greater Vancouver City Directory 1914
• Henderson’s Greater Vancouver City Directory 1916
• Henderson’s Greater Vancouver City Directory 1917
• Henderson’s Greater Vancouver City Directory 1918
• Henderson’s Greater Vancouver City Directory 1918
• Henderson’s Greater Vancouver City Directory 1919
• Henderson’s Greater Vancouver Directory 1911
• Henderson’s Greater Vancouver Directory 1912
• Henderson’s Greater Vancouver Directory 1915
• Henderson’s Greater Vancouver Directory 1919
• Henderson’s Greater Vancouver Directory 1922
• Henderson’s Greater Vancouver Directory 1922
• Henderson’s Greater Vancouver Directory 1923
• Henderson’s Vancouver Directory 1905
• Henderson’s Vancouver Directory 1906
• Henderson’s Vancouver Directory 1907
• Henderson’s Vancouver Directory 1908
• Henderson’s Vancouver Directory 1920
• Henderson’s Vancouver Directory 1921
• Henderson’s Vancouver Directory for 1890 
• Meacham’s Street and street car directory of Vancouver 1910 
• The Queen City of Vancouver Wonderful West 1898
• The Vancouver city Directory, June 1899-1900
• The Vancouver city Directory, March, 1896
• Vancouver 1896 
• Vancouver 1899-1900 
• Vancouver and New Westminster City Directory 1950
• Vancouver and New Westminster City Directory 1951
• Vancouver and New Westminster City Directory 1952
• Vancouver and New Westminster City Directory 1953
• Vancouver and New Westminster City Directory 1954
• Vancouver and New Westminster City Directory 1955
• Vancouver city Directory -1888
• Vancouver City Directory 1896
• Vancouver City Directory 1899-1900
• Vancouver City Directory Williams’ 1888
• Vancouver City Guide 1923
• Vancouver Directory 1888
• Vancouver Directory 1888 
• Vancouver Directory March 1896
• Vancouver Island and Adjacent Islands Directory, Provincial Publishing Company, 1909
• Vancouver Social Register and Club Directory 1914
• Williams’ Vancouver & New Westminster cities Directory 1890
• Williams’ Vancouver & New Westminster cities directory 1890
• Williams’ Vancouver and New Westminster 1890
• Williams’ Vancouver and New Westminster Cities Directory 1890
• Williams’ Vancouver and New Westminster cities directory 1890 
• Wrigley’s Greater Vancouver and New Westminster Directory 1933

Vernon

• Vernon 1889 Directory
• Vernon 1898 Directory
• Vernon 1909 Directory
• Vernon 1910 Directory
• Vernon 1919 Directory
• Vernon 1921 Directory
• Vernon 1924 Directory
• Vernon City and North Okanagan Directory 1953-1954
• Vernon City and North Okanagan Directory 1955
• Vernon City and Okanagan Valley Directory 1913
• Vernon City Directory 1948-1949
• Vernon City Directory 1951

Victoria

• City of Victoria and Suburban Directory 1905
• City of Victoria and Suburban Directory 1908
• Cubery’s Visitor’s Guide to Victoria 1875
• Directory of Victoria City Tregillus-Thompson 1914
• First Victoria Directory 1860
• First Victoria Directory 1860
• First Victoria Directory 1860
• First Victoria Directory 1860 
• First Victoria Directory 2nd Issue 1868
• First Victoria Directory 3rd Issue 1869
• First Victoria Directory 4th Issue 1871
• First Victoria Directory 5th Issue 1874
• First Victoria Directory and San Francisco Department 1860
• First Victoria Directory, fifth issue, 1874
• First Victoria Directory, fifth Issue, and British Columbia Guide 1874 
• First Victoria Directory, second issue, 1868
• First Victoria Directory, second Issue, and British Columbia Guide 1868 
• First Victoria Directory, Third  Issue, 1871
• First Victoria Directory, third [i.e. fourth] Issue, and British Columbia Guide 1871 
• First Victoria Directory, third issue,  1869
• First Victoria Directory, third issue,  1871
• First Victoria Directory, third Issue, and British Columbia Guide 1869 
• Henderson’s City of Victoria Directory 1890
• Henderson’s city of Victoria Directory for 1890
• Henderson’s Greater Victoria City Directory 1910-1911
• Henderson’s Greater Victoria City Directory 1912
• Henderson’s Greater Victoria City Directory 1913
• Henderson’s Greater Victoria City Directory 1915
• Henderson’s Greater Victoria City Directory 1917
• Henderson’s Greater Victoria City Directory 1918
• Henderson’s Greater Victoria Directory 1914
• Henderson’s Victoria and Suburban Directory 1908
• Henderson’s Victoria Directory 1890
• Henderson’s Victoria Directory 1890 
• Henderson’s Victoria Directory 1920
• Henderson’s Victoria Directory 1921
• Henderson’s Victoria Directory 1921
• Lynch’s Ready Guide, Victoria 1892 
• Victoria City and Vancouver Island Directory 1950-1951
• Victoria City and Vancouver Island Directory 1951
• Victoria City and Vancouver Island Directory 1952
• Victoria City and Vancouver Island Directory 1953
• Victoria City and Vancouver Island Directory 1954
• Victoria City and Vancouver Island Directory 1955
• Victoria City Directory 1901
• Victoria City Directory 1949
• Victoria City Guide 1923
• Victoria Directory 1882
• Victoria Directory 1892
• Victoria Directory 1902
• Williams’ Victoria and Nanaimo Cities Directory 1890
• Williams’ Victoria and Nanaimo Cities Directory 1890 
• Williams’ Victoria and Nanaimo cities Directory, 1890
• Williams’ Victoria and Nanaimo cities directory, 1890
• Williams’ Victoria and Nanaimo Directory 1890

West Kootenay

• West Kootenay Directory 1953