City Directories of Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana

Fort Wayne city directories start in 1858 with business and city resident addresses. Public domain copies before 1923 are listed on the City Directories page and embeded within the Timeline pages. There were a few Allen County only directories such as 1906.

1907 Griswold's birdseye view of the city of Fort Wayne, Indiana indexed for ready reference by B. J. Griswold, (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927 at The Library of Congress, is a zoomable map. Excellent map with indexed locations for seeing where things were in early 20th century Fort Wayne. See our 1900 Timeline and Maps page for more information.

The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indianahas originals and photocopies of almost every city directory issue from 1858 to the present time. All their available public domain copies before 1923 are online at Internet Archiveand links are on this page. Their book Fort Wayne, Indiana, city directory on the More Info tab has links to most of their online City Directories. I have found even more online and have them listed below.

4 minute video City Directories posted October 30, 2019 by the Genealogy Center on Facebook.

Many of the early directories have the name R. S. Robertson written on them indicating they were owned and donated to the library collection by Colonel Robert S. Robertson. Directories before and after 1890 are one way to recreate information for the missing 1890 census.

It is very helpful to look through a few city directories to see how much information they contain. Online digital copies have been OCR'd, (Optical Character Recoginition) meaning we can do keyword searches to quickly find words we may not find by manually reading through each page. Like everything digital, some words will be missed when searching online. There are no surname indexes. While the names are listed alphabetical, some issues have a couple of pages of names that arrived too late to be included alphabetically.

The directories are also a city guide and business mirror. A Table of Contents will list businesses, boundaries of wards (used in early census records), churches, city and county officers, index to advertisements, schools, banks, incorporated institutions, secret and benevolent societies, trades, professions, post offices, public buildings, street directory (for old street names and locations) and more. The Genealogy Center has over 57,000 city directories, 11,000 on microfilm and several hundred on microfiche. They have an online catalog and some may be on PERSI. Read more in Finding and Using Directories in The Genealogy Center by John published July 07, 2013 in The Genealogy Center blog.

City Directories: More than Basic Facts published on Feb 15, 2022 by the Allen County Public Library on YouTube
City directories provide more than just a name and address for a particular year. Discover the stories held within these volumes. Presented by Melissa Tennant. Handout: https://static.libnet.info/frontend-images/pdfs/acpl/Genealogy/City_Directories_handout_2022.pdf

Research Tools & Tips: Cluster Research, City/County Directories and Social Security Data uploaded Aug 26, 2021 by AAGSFW Fort Wayne on YouTube
African American Genealogical Society of Fort Wayne (AAGSFW) Research Tools & Tips: Cluster Research, City/County Directories and Social Security Data In this month's Research Tools & Tips training, Dr. Al Brothers - Vice-Chair of the AAGSFW - explains how to use indexes and lists to further your genealogy research. Add more tools to your research toolbox with AAGSFW!

The book Fort Wayne, Indiana, city directory at the The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indianaon the More Info tab has links to most of their online City Directories. They are listed below.

Fort Wayne (Ind.) -- Directories search on Internet Archivelists only a few dozen volumes, but many more from the catalog link above and lucky searching over time are listed below.

1850

  1. William's Fort Wayne Directory City Guide and Business Mirror Volume 1. - 1858-1859 - Compiled by C. S. Williams - copy of original? See Table of Contents, 2,668 names, Street Directory
  2. William's Fort Wayne Directory City Guide and Business Mirror Volume 1. - 1858-1859 - Compiled by C. S. Williams - original?
  3. William's Fort Wayne Directory City Guide and Business Mirror Volume 1. - 1858-1859 - Compiled by C. S. Williams - 3rd copy - big stain 

1860

  1. The Fort Wayne City & Business Directory and City Guide For 1860-1861 - Prepared by Wm. H. H. Hull Fort Wayne, Indiana
  2. The Fort Wayne City & Business Directory and City Guide For 1860-1861 - Prepared by Wm. H. H. Hull Fort Wayne, Indiana - duplicate
  3. Williams Fort Wayne Directory City Guide & Business Mirror for 1861-1862 - Second Issue. by C. S. Williams with stains
  4. Williams Fort Wayne Directory City Guide & Business Mirror for 1861-1862 - Second Issue. Compiled by C. S. Williams - duplicate
  5. S. U. Goodwin's Allen County gazetteer and business directory for 1862 by Beeks, James C., comp Publication date 1862
  6. 1863 is missing
  7. Williams' Fort Wayne Directory, city guide and business mirror, for 1864-1865 - Third Issue: Compiled by Williams & Co.
  8. Williams' Fort Wayne Directory, city guide and business mirror, for 1864-1865 - Third Issue: Compiled by Williams & Co. - duplicate
  9. Williams' Fort Wayne Directory, city guide and business mirror, for 1864-1865 - Third Issue: Compiled by Williams & Co. - duplicate with stains
  10. Fort Wayne Directory 1866-1867 - Fourth Issue: Compiled by Williams & Co.
  11. Fort Wayne Directory 1866-1867 - Fourth Issue: Compiled by Williams & Co. - duplicate
  12. Allen County Gazetteer : containing a directory of Fort Wayne City, and historical and descriptive sketches of the several townships of the county, also, a directory of the names, occupation and post office address of the merchants, manufacturers & farmers throughout Allen County ...(1867) - Bailey, John C. W., Allen County is in front, Fort Wayne starts on page 33 - Compiled and Published by John C. W. Bailey Chicago, Ill.
  13. Ft. Wayne Directory 1868-1869 - Fifth Issue: Compiled by Williams & Co. - yellow pages
  14. Ft. Wayne Directory 1868-1869 - Fifth Issue: Compiled by Williams & Co. - duplicate
  15. Ft. Wayne Directory 1868-1869 - Fifth Issue: Compiled by Williams & Co. - duplicate (missing "a" in url)
  16. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory for 1869-70 - A. B. Cook, Jr. - not in ACPL online catalog

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1870

  1. Ft. Wayne Directory 1870-1871 - Sixth Issue: Compiled by Williams & Co.
  2. Fort Wayne City directory 1872 - King's
  3. Fort Wayne City directory 1873-1874 - Carier & Campbell's
  4. Fort Wayne City directory 1873-1874 - Carier & Campbell's - yellow copy
  5. Fort Wayne Directory 1874-1875 - Polk, Murphy & Co. Publishers
  6. Fort Wayne Directory 1874-1875 - Polk, Murphy & Co. Publishers - duplicate
  7. Fort Wayne Directory 1875-1876 - Sold only by subscription - R.L. Polk & Co.
  8. Fort Wayne Directory 1875-1876 - Sold only by subscription - R.L. Polk & Co. - duplicate
  9. Fort Wayne City Directory 1876-1877 - Cincinnati, Ohio
  10. Fort Wayne Directory 1877 - Sold only by subscription - Third Volume - R.L. Polk & Co.
  11. Fort Wayne Directory 1878 - Sold only by subscription - Fourth Edition - R.L. Polk & Co.
  12. Fort Wayne Directory 1878 - Sold only by subscription - Fourth Edition - R.L. Polk & Co. - duplicate
  13. Fort Wayne Directory 1879-1880 - Sold only by subscription - R.L. Polk & Co. - Fifth Volume - original
  14. Fort Wayne Directory 1879-1880 - Sold only by subscription - R.L. Polk & Co. - Fifth Volume - photocopy

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1880

  1. Fort Wayne and Allen County Directory 1880-1881 - Sold only by subscription - Sixth Volume (in Preface) R.L. Polk & Co. - clipped pinkish
  2. Fort Wayne and Allen County Directory 1880-1881 - Sold only by subscription - Sixth Volume (in Preface) R.L. Polk & Co. - yellowish
  3. Fort Wayne and Allen County Directory 1882-1883 - Sold only by subscription - Seventh Volume (in Preface) - R.L. Polk & Co.
  4. Fort Wayne City Directory 1883-1884 - Sold only by subscription - Volume VIII - R.L. Polk & Co.
  5. Fort Wayne City Directory 1883-1884 - Sold only by subscription - Volume VIII - R.L. Polk & Co. - yellowish
  6. Fort Wayne City Directory 1885-1886 - Sold only by subscription - Volume IX - R.L. Polk & Co. - yellowish
  7. Fort Wayne City Directory 1885-1886 - Sold only by subscription - Volume IX - R.L. Polk & Co.
  8. Kramer's general business directory : containing an accurately selected and classified list of the leading manufacturers, jobbers, wholesale and retail dealers, professional and business men of Northern Indiana Publication date 1885
  9. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1887 - Sold only by subscription - Volume X - R.L. Polk & Co. - photocopy
  10. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1887 - Sold only by subscription - Volume X - R.L. Polk & Co. - duplicate photocopy
  11. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1888 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XI- R.L. Polk & Co.
  12. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1888 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XI- R.L. Polk & Co. - yellowish copy
  13. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1888 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XI- R.L. Polk & Co. - starts at "P"
  14. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1889-1890 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XII - R.L. Polk & Co.
  15. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1889-1890 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XII - R.L. Polk & Co. - yellowish copy

1890

  1. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1890-1891 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XIII - R.L. Polk & Co.
  2. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1890-1891 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XIII - R.L. Polk & Co. - yellowish copy
  3. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1890-1891 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XIII - R.L. Polk & Co. - photocopy starts at "R"
  4. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1891-1892 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XIV - R.L. Polk & Co. - original
  5. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1891-1892, pt.1 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XIV - R.L. Polk & Co. - photocopy through "Pauley"
  6. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1891-1892, pt.2 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XIV - R.L. Polk & Co. - photocopy starts with "Paulitz"
  7. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1893-94 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XV- R. L. Polk & Co. - original
  8. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1893-94, pt. 1 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XV- R. L. Polk & Co. - photocopy ends with "Preller"
  9. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1893-94, pt.2 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XV- R. L. Polk & Co. - photocopy starts with "Press"
  10. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1894-1895 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XVI - R.L. Polk & Co. - photocopy dark
  11. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1894-1895 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XVI - R.L. Polk & Co. - photocopy light
  12. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1895-1896, pt. 1 - photocopy - Sold only by subscription - Volume XVII - R.L. Polk & Co.
  13. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1895-1896, pt. 2 - photocopy - Sold only by subscription - Volume XVII - R.L. Polk & Co.
  14. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1896 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XVIII - R. L. Polik & Co.
  15. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1896 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XVIII - R. L. Polik & Co. - yellowish copy
  16. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1897 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XIX R.L. Polk & Co. - more complete
  17. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1897 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XIX R.L. Polk & Co. - yellowish copy
  18. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1898 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XX R.L. Polk & Co.
  19. Fort Wayne Cty and Allen County Directory 1898, pt.1 - part 1 copy
  20. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1898, pt.2 - part 2 copy
  21. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1899 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XXI - R.L. Polk & Co. cn
  22. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1899, pt. 1 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XXI - R.L. Polk & Co. cn - photocopy ends with "Quinn"
  23. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1899, pt. 2 - Sold only by subscription - Volume XXI - R.L. Polk & Co. cn - photocopy - starts with "Quinn"

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1900

  1. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1900 - Volume XXII - R.L. Polk & Co. - brownish copy
  2. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1900 - Volume XXII - R.L. Polk & Co. - yellowish copy
  3. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1901 - Volume XXIII - R.L. Polk & Co.
  4. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1901, pt. 1 - Volume XXIII - R.L. Polk & Co. - ends with "Niebel"
  5. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1901, pt. 2 - Volume XXIII - R.L. Polk & Co. - starts with "Niebel"
  6. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1902 - Volume XXIX - R.L. Polk & Co. - house numbers changed due to city ordinance demands from 1901 City directory numbers - see pages 6-7.
  7. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1902 - Volume XXIX - R.L. Polk & Co. - duplicate
  8. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1902 - Volume XXIX - R.L. Polk & Co. - duplicate
  9. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1903 - Volume XXX - R.L. Polk & Co.
  10. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1904 - Volume XXXI - R.L. Polk & Co.
  11. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1904 - Volume XXXI - R.L. Polk & Co. - yellowish copy
  12. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1905 - Volume XXXII - R.L. Polk & Co.
  13. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1905 - Volume XXXII - R.L. Polk & Co. - darker copy
  14. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1906 - Volume XXXIII - R.L. Polk & Co.
  15. Fort Wayne, Indiana, Rural Mail District 1906 - Appleby Co., Saginaw, Mich.- note this is Not a Fort Wayne City Directory!
  16. R.L. Polk & Co.'s Allen County directory, 1906 - note this is Not a Fort Wayne City Directory!
  17. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1907 - Volume XXXIV - R.L. Polk & Co. - yellowish copy
  18. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1907 - Volume XXXIV - R.L. Polk & Co. ends with Nolan
  19. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1907, pt. 2 - Volume XXXIV - R.L. Polk & Co. - photocopy starts at "Nolan"
  20. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1908 - Volume XXXV - R.L. Polk & Co.
  21. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1909, pt. 1 - Volume XXXVI pt.1 - R.L. Polk & Co. - light photocopy ends at "Herr"
  22. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1909, pt. 2 - Volume XXXVI pt 2 - R.L. Polk & Co. - photocopy starts with "Herr" and ends with "Toenges"
  23. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1909, pt. 3 - Volume XXXVI pt 2 - R.L. Polk & Co. - photocopy starts with "Toenges"

1910

  1. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1910 - Volume XXXVII - R.L. Polk & Co.
  2. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1910 - Volume XXXVII - R.L. Polk & Co. - yellowish copy
  3. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1910, pt.1 - R.L. Polk & Co. - photocopy ends with "Nebur"
  4. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1911 - Volume XXXVIII - R.L. Polk & Co. - original is missing pages before page 12, and only goes to Young in the Allen County Directory surname page 238. Part 3 below goes to the Zurcher the last Allen County Directory surname on page 241.
  5. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1911, pt.1 - photocopy - Volume XXXVIII - R.L. Polk & Co. - names through "Hofer"
  6. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1911, pt 2 - photocopy - Volume XXXVIII - R.L. Polk & Co. - starts with "Hofer" and ends with "Stopher"
  7. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1911 pt. 3 - photocopy - Volume XXXVIII - R.L. Polk & Co. - starts with "Stoppenhagen" through the end
  8. The Home Telephone and Telegraph Company Fort Wayne, Indiana June 1, 1911 - Includes Arcola, Churubusco, Harlan, Huntertown, Laud, Leo- Grabill, Monroeville, New Haven, Ossian, Poe-Hoagland, Preble, Roanoke, Spencerville, Tocsin, Woodburn and Zanesville - a second copy
  9. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1912 - Volume XXXIX - R.L. Polk & Co. - yellowish original copy
  10. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1912 - Volume XXXIX - R.L. Polk & Co. through page 870 Moellering
  11. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1912 pt. 2 - Volume XXXIX - R.L. Polk & Co.- original starts with page 871 "Moench" through the end
  12. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1912 pt.1 - Volume XXXIX - R.L. Polk & Co. - yellowish original names through Moellering
  13. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1912 pt. 2 - photocopy - Volume XXXIX - R.L. Polk & Co. - starts with "Moench" through the end
  14. Telephone directory, Fort Wayne, Indiana February 1912 - Fort Wayne, Ind. : Home Telephone & Telegraph Co. - a second copy
  15. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1913 - Volume XL - R.L. Polk & Co.
  16. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1913 - Volume XL - R.L. Polk & Co. - duplicate
  17. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1914, pt. 1 - photocopy - Volume XLI - R.L. Polk & Co. - names through McPhail
  18. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1914, pt. 2 - photocopy - R.L. Polk & Co. - McPhail through the end
  19. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1914, pt. 1 - 2nd photocopy - Volume XLI - R.L. Polk & Co. - names through McPhail
  20. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1914, pt. 2 - 2nd photocopy - R.L. Polk & Co. - McPhail through the end
  21. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1915, pt. 1 - photocopy - Volume XLII - R.L. Polk & Co. - names through McNulty
  22. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1915, pt. 2 - photocopy - R.L. Polk & Co. - McNulty through the end
  23. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1915, pt. 2 - 2nd photocopy - R.L. Polk & Co. - McNulty through the end
  24. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1916 - Volume XLIII - R.L. Polk & Co. - lighter copy
  25. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1916 - Volume XLIII - R.L. Polk & Co. - darker copy
  26. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1916, pt. 2 - photocopy - R.L. Polk & Co. - Manchester through the end
  27. Telephone Directory June 1, 1916 - The Home Telephone & Telegraph Company
  28. Rural route directory, Allen County, Indiana Publication date 1916 Publisher Ramsey different copy
  29. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1917 - Volume XLIV - R.L. Polk & Co.
  30. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1917 - Volume XLIV - R.L. Polk & Co. - yellowish copy
  31. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1918, pt. 1 photocopy - Volume XLV - R.L. Polk & Co. - names through McCormick
  32. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1918, pt. 2 photocopy - Volume XLV - R.L. Polk & Co. - McCormick through the end
  33. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1918, pt. 2 2nd photocopy - Volume XLV - R.L. Polk & Co. - McCormick through the end
  34. Fort Wayne City and Allen County Directory 1919 Volume XLVI - R.L. Polk & Co.

1920

  1. Fort Wayne, Indiana, city directory (Volume yr.1920) - R.L. Polk & Co. cn
  2. Fort Wayne, Indiana, city directory (Volume yr.1920) - R.L. Polk & Co. cn - red cover
  3. Fort Wayne, Indiana, city directory (Volume yr.1921) - R.L. Polk & Co. cn
  4. Fort Wayne, Indiana, city directory (Volume yr. 1922) - R.L. Polk & Co. cn
  5. Fort Wayne, Indiana, city directory (Volume yr.1923, pt.1) - R.L. Polk & Co. cn - ends with "Haller"
  6. Fort Wayne, Indiana, city directory (Volume yr.1923, pt.2) - R.L. Polk & Co. cn - starts with "Haller"
  7. Fort Wayne, Indiana, city directory (Volume yr.1923, pt.2) - R.L. Polk & Co. cn - starts with "Haller" - 2nd copy
  8. Telephone directory, Fort Wayne, Indiana 1924  - Fort Wayne, Ind. : Home Telephone & Telegraph Co.

1930s

  1. Fort Wayne City Directory, Q-Z, 1933 - Polk’s Fort Wayne city directory, Post Office edition
  2. Fort Wayne City Directory, A-G, 1937 - Polk’s Fort Wayne city directory, Post Office edition
  3. Fort Wayne City Directory, H-P, 1937 - Polk’s Fort Wayne city directory, Post Office edition
  4. Fort Wayne City Directory, Q-Z, 1937 - Polk’s Fort Wayne city directory, Post Office edition
  5. Fort Wayne City Directory, A-G, 1939 - Polk’s Fort Wayne city directory, Post Office edition
  6. Fort Wayne City Directory, H-P, 1939 - Polk’s Fort Wayne city directory, Post Office edition
  7. Fort Wayne City Directory, Q-Z, 1939 - Polk’s Fort Wayne city directory, Post Office edition

Several more Polk's from the 1930s -1940s

1940s

  1. Fort Wayne Ind. Post Office Directory A-G 1943 - R. L. Polk & co Publication
  2. Fort Wayne, Ind. Post Office Directory H-P 1943 - Polk’s Fort Wayne city directory, Post Office edition
  3. Fort Wayne, Ind. Post Office Directory Q-Z Streets Classified, 1943 - Polk’s Fort Wayne city directory, Post Office edition
  4. Fort Wayne, Ind. Post Office Directory Q-Z, 1945 - Polk’s Fort Wayne city directory, Post Office edition

The The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indianahas all the Fort Wayne city directories to the present, including hundreds of other U. S. cities and towns.

5 Tips for Getting the Most from City Directories posted by  on February 26, 2016 in Ancestry.com Site.

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