City directories constitute one of the most complete records of residential life in communities. In addition to indicating the street addresses of households, the directories often specified the occupation or employment status of members of the household. These records also allow for geographic mapping of households. Using U.S. Census records to confirm racial designations, we are able to match that data with city directories to locate residential concentrations and patterns. When uploaded to geo-locating software, these data can generate graphic representations of where these households were in relation to others and give a sense of ethnic and racial neighbors within the larger community as a whole.
In some years, usually prior to the 1930s, city directors often indicated when the head of the household was not white. By placing the letter “c” after the resident’s name, directory authors and publishers intentionally marked African American citizens as “colored.” This social convention of officially “othering” residents expanded in some years to specify additional racial and ethnic groups in directories. Even though rarely more than one percent of the total population of Knox County, Black residents constituted the single largest minority group. Thus, the most frequently occurring designation of racial identification that one would find in the directories was the letter “c.”
Using a methodology of cross-checking with U.S. Census records, this collection includes all city directory listings found for Knox County Black residents. The content of the directories has been transcribed to facilitate name and word searches, and images of the listings appear when available or sufficiently legible. See the image below for an example.
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William's Mt. Vernon City Directory 1858-9 churches and instutions
William's
This is a directory that has not only the citizens of the county but also shows businesses, churches, and institutions of the county. Also publishing date maybe different.
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White's Mt Vernon Directory and City Guilde 1876-7 Vol. 1
White's Mt Vernon Directory
These directories are a list of residents in the county. These directories house information such as companies, addresses, institutions, and churches. In some of these directories the African Americans in the community are listed with a "C" this is for the listing of colored. Some churches or organizations also were identified by the "colored" designation. Also in these directories the publication year might not be in the same year that the information was gathered.
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Thomas Allen, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 18
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
"Allen, Thomas (Mary M.) laborer 5 S East St"
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1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 22
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
The family to pay attention to is the William H. Bailey family
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Willam Baugher, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 25
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
" Baugher Wm. M. (Louana) 1 ch well driller O B&L 1h 1c Danville Ind telomt. "
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Thomas Bebout, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 26
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
" Bebout, Tom E. (Mattie) 4 ch farming & keeping gen store O 177a Sh. 12c R2 Gambier Har 39 B & Ind. tels ptoht."
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Thomas Bennett 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 28
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
"Bennett, Thos, 7h 5c Mt Vernon csht."
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Frank Black, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 31
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
"Black, Frank (Minnie) 2 ch farming O s7a 4h 3c R1 Bladensburg Jack 51." However in the 1910's census Frank's name is Andrew.
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Mary C. Blubaugh, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 32
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
" Blubaugh, Mary C. Buckeye City hpsat."
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Elmer Brown, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 36
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
" Brown, Elmer. R3 Mt. Vernon."
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1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 37
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
The family to pay attention to is William B Byrant family
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G. Burchard,1915 Rural Directory of Knox County pg 38-9
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
" Burchard G. (Monna) 1 ch telegraph operator O H&L Brinkhaven."
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Charles Colwill, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County pg 46
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
" Colwill, Chas. G. (Ciara) 4 ch farmer O 97a 6h 17c R3 Gambier Mon 78 Ind. tel ohrt."
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Harry C. Conkle, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 47
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
" Conkle Harry C. (Myrtle) 3 ch miller O H&L Danville Ind tel himt."
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C.V. Cullison, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 50-1
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
" Cullison C.V. (Amanda) 5 ch manson O H&L Danville Ind tel."
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George Cramer, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 48
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
"Cramer George, (Berty) miller, 21 Prospect St, Mt Vernon," There is a difference between the 1910 census and the 1915 directory in the address. In the census the family lives at 601 West Chestnut Street. In the directory 21 Prospect Street.
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Frank Denman, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 54
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
"Denman Frank, J. (Mabel A.) 1 ch bridge carpenter on Mar Div T H&L 1c Brinkhaven."
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George Donaldson, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 56
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
"Donaldson George, (Donna) moulder 1006 W Vine St Mt Vernon, Ind tel."
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Jame Dudgeon, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 58-9
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
" Dudgeon, James M. (Adeline) farming O 106a 3h 3c 1an R1 Gambier Har 23 Ind. tel hhpt."
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G.T. Edwards, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 60
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
"Edwards G.T. Danville, ptt."
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Eva Farmer, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 62-3
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
" Farmer, Eva J. Gambier stt."
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Frank Flecknoe, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 64
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
" Flecknoe, Frank (Ada) 2 ch farmer T 140a R7 Fredricktown Mris 32, Ind. tel"
