The Henderson's Directories are
historical city directories of households and businesses in
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
, published starting around 1880. The geographical focus was on
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada at the Centre of Canada, longitudinal centre of the country. It is Canada's Population of Canada by province and territory, fifth-most populous province, with a population ...
,
Alberta
Alberta is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Canada. It is a part of Western Canada and is one of the three Canadian Prairies, prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to its west, Saskatchewan to its east, t ...
, and
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Western Canada. It is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, to the northeast by Nunavut, and to the south by the ...
; but coverage also included some cities in
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...
and
Ontario
Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
. Coverage varied depending on location and year. Titles also varied greatly: examples include ''Henderson's Manitoba and Northwest Territories gazetteer and directory'', ''Henderson's Directories of Western Canada'', ''Henderson's Edmonton city directory'', and many others. The publication was intended to be annual, but publication frequency often varied.
Background
The directories were published by Winnipeg-based Henderson Directories Limited, founded by James Henderson (ca. 1846-1919), whose obituary refers to him as "one of the best known publishers on the continent." At the time, many other directories publishers were operating in Canada, covering different geographical areas.
Agents of Henderson Directories Limited would go door-to-door, gathering information from residents and businesses. Inclusion was not mandatory, and individuals or business could request to be excluded.
These agents would record the names of residents, their professions, as well as business and residential addresses.
Contents
The directories generally included:
* Business
advertisements
Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a product or service. Advertising aims to present a product or service in terms of utility, advantages, and qualities of interest to consumers. It is typically us ...
, some with images.
* City information: e.g. key statistics; governance structure; city departments and facilities as well as local clubs, associations & churches with the names of officials and board members, local
Chambers of Commerce
A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to adv ...
information.
* Province information: similar to city information - statistics, governance, key contacts, etc
* Alphabetical homeowner and business directory: Name, address, occupation, telephone when applicable
*
Classified business directory organized by type of business
* Street and Avenue Guide (in later editions): Street address, Occupant or home owner, telephone if applicable .
Modern use
Henderson's Directories can be used for many different types of historical research. They present a rich primary source for demographic information, illustrating patterns of settlement across urban areas in Western Canada.
Advertisements
Advertising is the practice and techniques employed to bring attention to a product or service. Advertising aims to present a product or service in terms of utility, advantages, and qualities of interest to consumers. It is typically us ...
can be used as visual illustrations of consumer and social trends. They can be used to trace the history of the cities'
urban planning
Urban planning (also called city planning in some contexts) is the process of developing and designing land use and the built environment, including air, water, and the infrastructure passing into and out of urban areas, such as transportatio ...
around
infrastructure
Infrastructure is the set of facilities and systems that serve a country, city, or other area, and encompasses the services and facilities necessary for its economy, households and firms to function. Infrastructure is composed of public and pri ...
and
public works
Public works are a broad category of infrastructure projects, financed and procured by a government body for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community. They include public buildings ( municipal buildings, ...
.
Because they include the names and professions of individuals, they are also useful for
genealogists
Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kins ...
and
local historians
Local may refer to:
Geography and transportation
* Local (train), a train serving local traffic demand
* Local, Missouri, a community in the United States
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Local'' (comics), a limited series comic book by Bria ...
. Several
public libraries
''Public Libraries'' is the official publication of the Public Library Association (PLA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). It is devoted exclusively to public libraries. The print edition is published six times a year and i ...
and
family history
Genealogy () is the study of families, family history, and the tracing of their lineages. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kins ...
networks have include Henderson's Directories on their list of recommended sources.
[{{Cite web, title=CanGenealogy – Alberta Directory Genealogy Sources, url=https://www.cangenealogy.com/alberta-directories.html, access-date=2021-03-13, website=www.cangenealogy.com] Casual users may find the directory useful for finding out the history of their homes.
References
External links
Full-text directories on Internet Archive
Directories