Free Online Maine City Directories

City and business directories are available online from all over the U.S. 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, and newspapers.
• Whether a woman is a widow (including the name of her husband).
• List of marriages and deaths of the previous year.
• Death date.
• etc.

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

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

And here are various places where you can find other city directories online: 

• Where to Find City Directories Online

Note: Some of the 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, please 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 statewide collections, followed in alphabetical order by city or county. Generally, the publishing company is included in the reference to the collection, along with the collection title, and the date(s) of the directory:

Statewide

• A Gazetteer of the state of Maine, 1881
• Business Directory of the subscribers to the new map of Maine : with a brief history and description of the state
• Directory of Maine pioneer ancestors
• Directory of the Manufacturing Industries of Maine, 1910
• Directory of the Manufacturing Industries of Maine, 1914
• Directory of the Manufacturing Industries of Maine, 1950
• Directory of the Manufacturing Industries of Maine, 1952
• Directory of the Manufacturing Industries of Maine, 1956
• Directory of the Manufacturing Industries of Maine, 1958
• Maine Business Directory, Union Publishing Company, 1893
• Maine Industries 1939
• Maine Register or state year-book and legislative manual, 1888
• Maine Register, for the year 1855
• New England Business Directory, Sampson & Murdock, 1916 (Part 1)
• New England Business Directory, Sampson & Murdock, 1918 (Part 1)
• The Maine Register, and Business Directory, 1856
• The Maine state Directory and gazetteer for – 1893
• The Maine state Directory and Gazetteer, 1893

Albion

• The Town Register: Sidney, Vassalboro, China, Albion, 1908

Alfred

• The Town Register, Alfred, Lyman, Dayton, Hollis and Waterboro, 1905

Androscoggin County

• The Androscoggin County Directory, 1906-07
• The Androscoggin County Directory, 1910-11
• The Androscoggin County Directory, 1914-15
• The Androscoggin County Directory, 1918-19

Appleton

• Appleton Business Directory, unknown, 1951
• Appleton Register, 1903
• Appleton Register, 1903
• Appleton Register, 1903
• Appleton Register, 1951
• Appleton Register, 1972
• Appleton Town Directory, Pease, 1903

Augusta

• Augusta, Hallowell and Gardiner Directory, 1867
• Directory of the inhabitants, institutions, manufacturing establishments … in the cities of Augusta, Hallowell and Gardiner for 1882.
• Directory of the inhabitants, institutions, manufacturing establishments … in the cities of Augusta, Hallowell and Gardiner for 1882.
• Manning’s Augusta, Gardiner, Hallowell, Farmingdale, Manchester, Randolph, Richmond, W. Gardiner, Winthrop (Maine) Directory – 1931
• Manning’s Augusta, Gardiner, Hallowell, Farmingdale, Manchester, Randolph, Richmond, W. Gardiner, Winthrop Directory – v. 34 (1935)

Bangor

• 1884 Bangor City Directory
• 1885-86 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
• 1887-88 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
• 1890 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
• 1891 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
• 1892 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
• 1893-94 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
• 1895-96 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
• 1897-98 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
• 1899 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
• 1901 Bangor Brewer Hampden and Veazie City Directory
• 1903 Bangor Brewer Old Town Orono City Directory
• 1903 Bangor Brewer Old Town Orono City Directory
• 1905 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
• 1907 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
• 1909 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
• 1910-11 Bangor, Brewer, Old Town, Orono, and Veazie City Directory
• 1912 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
• 1914 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
• 1916 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
• 1919 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
• 1921-1922 Bangor and Brewer City Directory
• Bangor and Brewer City and Penobscot County Directories, Smith, 1859-60
• Bangor, Maine, City Directory, 1919
• The Bangor City Directory – 1864-1865

Belfast

• The Belfast & Camden Directory: 1890
• The Belfast Register 1907

Biddeford

• 1849 Saco and Biddeford Directory
• Biddeford and Saco Directory 1913
• Directory of Biddeford and Saco (Maine), 1920

Bridgton

• 1929-1930 Directory of Bridgton, Casco, Harrison, Naples and Raymond
• The Bridgton Town Register, 1905

Brunswick

Camden

• 1910 Resident and Business Directory of the town of Brunswick and Topsham village Maine,
• Resident And Business Directory Of Camden And Rockport, 1902-03

Casco

• 1929-1930 Directory of Bridgton, Casco, Harrison, Naples and Raymond

Casco Bay

• Casco Bay, Maine, Directory – 1902/1903
• Casco Bay, Maine, Directory, 1902-03

China

• The Town Register: Sidney, Vassalboro, China, Albion, 1908

East Somerset County

• East Somerset County Register, 1911-1912

Ellsworth

• The City of Ellsworth Register, 1908: with Surry and Bluehill

Exeter

• The Town Register: Exeter, Hampton, 1908

Farmington

• Farmington Town Register, 1903

Gorham

• The Town Register, Gorham and Buxton, 1905

Harrison

• 1929-1930 Directory of Bridgton, Casco, Harrison, Naples and Raymond

Kennebec County

• Resident and Business Directory of Kennebec County, 1909-1910
• Resident and Business Directory of Kennebec County, Maine, including cities of Augusta, Gardiner, Hallowell and Waterville, 1905-06
• Resident and Business Directory of Kennebec County, Maine, including cities of Augusta, Gardiner, Hallowell and Waterville, 1915-16

Lewiston

• Lewiston and Auburn Directory. 1880/81
• Lewiston and Auburn Directory. 1883.
• Lewiston and Auburn Directory. 1885.
• Lewiston, Maine, City Directory, 1872
• Lewiston, Maine, City Directory, 1891
• Lewiston, Maine, City Directory, 1893-94
• The Lewiston and Auburn Directory, 1864
• Greenough, Jones & Co.’s Directory in the cities of Lewiston & Auburn, 1872
• Greenough, Jones & Co.’s Directory in the cities of Lewiston & Auburn, 1891
• Greenough, Jones & Co.’s Directory in the cities of Lewiston & Auburn, 1893-1894

Lincolnville

• The Town Register: Lincolnville, Northport, Belmont, Morrill, Searsmont and Waldo, 1907

Meredith

• The Town Register: Meredith, Tilton, Gilmanton, Sanbornton, Gilford, Belmont, New Hampton, 1908

Mt. Vernon

• The Mt. Vernon and Readfield Register, 1908

Naples

• 1929-1930 Directory of Bridgton, Casco, Harrison, Naples and Raymond

Orono

• Alumni Directory of the University of Maine – 1912
• Alumni Directory of the University of Maine – 1914
• Alumni Directory of the University of Maine, 1912
• Alumni Directory of the University of Maine, 1914
• Alumni Directory of the University of Maine, 1933
• Alumni Directory of the University of Maine, 1938

Oxford County

• Oxford County County Directory, Turner, 1906

Portland

• Directory of Portland – 1939
• Directory of Portland – 1940
• Directory of Portland and vicinity: complete street Directory 1900
• Directory of Portland: including the City of South Portland and the Town of Cape Elizabeth, 1905
• Directory of Portland: including the City of South Portland and the Town of Cape Elizabeth, 1906
• Directory of Portland: including the City of South Portland and the Town of Cape Elizabeth, 1907
• Directory of Portland: including the City of South Portland and the Town of Cape Elizabeth, 1908
• Directory of Portland: including the City of South Portland and the Town of Cape Elizabeth, 1910
• Directory of Portland: including the City of South Portland and the Town of Cape Elizabeth, 1911
• Directory of Portland: including the City of South Portland and the Town of Cape Elizabeth, 1912 pt. 2
• Directory of Portland: including the City of South Portland and the Town of Cape Elizabeth, 1912, pt. 1
• Directory of Portland: including the City of South Portland and the Town of Cape Elizabeth, 1914
• Directory of Portland: including the City of South Portland and the Town of Cape Elizabeth, 1921
• Directory of Portland: including the City of South Portland and the Town of Cape Elizabeth, 1940
• Directory of Portland: including the City of South Portland and the Town of Cape Elizabeth, 1942
• Directory of Portland: including the City of South Portland and the Town of Cape Elizabeth, 1953
• Directory of the City of Portland: and of the Towns of Cape Elizabeth, Deering, Westbrook and Falmouth 1882
• Gorham State College Alumni Directory  1879-1969
• New Portland Register, 1902
• Polk Portland, Maine, City Directory, 1912
• Portland City Directory, 1912
• Portland City Directory, Beckett, 1850-1
• Portland City Directory, Beckett, 1850-1
• Portland City Directory, Polk, 1957
• Portland City Directory, Polk, 1959
• Portland City Directory, Polk, 1962
• Portland City Directory, Portland Directory Company, 1912
• Portland City Directory, Portland Directory Company, 1912
• Portland, Maine, Directory and reference book, 1858-59
• The Portland Directory and Reference Book for 1852-53
• The Portland Directory and Reference Book, 1858
• The Portland Directory and Register – 1823
• The Portland Directory containing the names of the inhabitants, their occupations, places of business, and dwelling houses, and the city register, with lists of the streets, courts and wharves, 1834
• The Portland Directory for the Year 1844
• The Portland Directory, for the year … – 1841
• The Portland Reference Book and City Directory
• The Portland reference book and City Directory for … – 1850-1851
• The Portland reference book and city Directory, 1803-04
• The Portland Reference Book and City Directory, 1846
• The Portland Reference Book and City Directory, 1850
• The Portland Reference Book and City Directory, 1850-51
• The Portland reference book and city Directory, 1858-59

Raymond

• 1929-1930 Directory of Bridgton, Casco, Harrison, Naples and Raymond

Richmond

• The Richmond Register, 1909

Rockport

• Resident And Business Directory Of Camden And Rockport, 1902-03

Saco

• 1849 Saco and Biddeford Directory
• Biddeford and Saco Directory 1913
• The Saco Register: with Old Orchard, 1906

Sanford

• Sanford resident and Business Directory – 1893

Sidney

• The Town Register: Sidney, Vassalboro, China, Albion, 1908

St. George

• St. George chronicles, with the names and ages of the inhabitants, 1892
• St. George chronicles:  with names, ages and dates of birth, a complete Business Directory, 1932

Vassalboro

• The Town Register: Sidney, Vassalboro, China, Albion, 1908

Vineyard

• New Vineyard and Strong Register, 1902

Warren

• Warren,  census, History, statistics, Business Directory, 1888

Waterford

• The Town Register: Waterford, Albany, Greenwood, E. Stoneham

Waterville

• Colby College, Address book of officers and graduates, 1905
• Manning’s Waterville, Skowhegan, Fairfield, Oakland and Winslow, Maine, Directory – 1931

Westbrook

• Westbrook [Maine] City Directory, 1908
• Westbrook [Maine] City Directory, 1910
• Westbrook City Directory – 1908
• Westbrook City Directory – 1909-1910

Winthrop

• The Winthrop Register, 1903-1904

Wolfeboro

• The Town Register : Wolfeboro, Ossipee, Effingham, Tuftonboro, Tamworth, Freedom, 1908

​Yarmouth​

• The Yarmouth Register, 1904