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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John Giffin, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 70-1
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
" Giffin, John (Clara) 7 ch farmer O 28a 4h 2c R7 Mt Vernon Clin 8 1/2 rmst."
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Joseph Grassbaugh, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 72
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
" Grassbaugh, Joseph (Bertha) 2 ch rural mail carrier O 50a 2h 1c Danville Ind tel aptt."
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Charles Heagren,1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 80
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
" Heagren, Charles (Dora) machinist's helper, 1003 Howard St, Mt Vernon, Ind tel."
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Floyd Hendershot, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 81
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
" Hendershot Floyd, Danville, ptt."
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H. Judy, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 92
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
" Judy, H. 2h 4c Mt. Vernon, cct."
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Aaron Lepley, 1915 Rural Directory of Knox County p 100
Wilmer Atkinson Co.
" Lepley Aaron, O 34a Gambier irct."
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Walsh 1925 Mt Vernon City Directory pg 89
Walsh
William Barton family is the one to pay attention to.
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Walsh 1925 Mt Vernon City Directory p 100
Walsh Directory Co.
The family name to pay attention to is the James Brown family and his occupation is different then from the 1920's census. In the 1920's census he is a shop sweeper in the 1925 directory he is a cook.
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Walsh 1925 Mt Vernon City Directory p 103
Walsh Directory Co.
The family to pay attention to is the Ellias Byrd family
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Walsh 1925 Mt Vernon City Directory p 182
Walsh Directory Co.
The family to pay attention to is Sam Payne family.
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Walsh 1925 Mt Vernon City Directory p 216
Walsh Directory Co.
The families to pay attention to is the William Turne family and the Charles Turner.
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John Drake, Walsh 1925 Mt Vernon City Directory p 119
Walsh
"Drake, Jon. W. (Julia A) glasswrk, h 604 E Pleasant." The family to pay attention to on this page is the John Drake family.
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Wilson Harris, Walsh 1925 Mt Vernon City Directory p 138
Walsh
" Harris, Wilson carp, r 217 S. Main" The family to pay attention to is the Wilson Harris family
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John Kelly, Walsh 1925 Mt Vernon City Directory p 151
Walsh
" Kelly, Jon L, (Edith I) glasswrk, h 308 S Gay" The family name to pay attention to is the John H. Kelly family. Wife name is Edith.
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Harry W. Latherns, Walsh 1925 Mt Vernon City Directory p 156
Walsh
"Latherns Harry W. (Lulu S) clk. h. 14 Greer st." The 1920's census Mr. Lathern's name is William and in the 1925 directory it is Harry.
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Elmer McGee, Walsh 1925 Mt Vernon City Directory p 164
Walsh
"McGee Elmer, (Georgia) lab. h. 114 W, Hamtramck "
(There are difference between the census and directories. In the case of the Elmer family there is an address change. In the 1925 directory the family address is 114 W Hamtramck st. In the 1920's census it is 18 Cottage st.)
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George W. Newsom, Walsh 1925 Mt Vernon City Directory p 178
Walsh
" Newsom Geo W, (Ella H) tmstr h 11 Cottage"
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Maude Venia, Walsh 1925 Mt Vernon City Directory p 218
Walsh
" Venia Maude wid Andrew r 205 Walnut, " The family to pay attention to is the Maude Venia family and in the 1920's census the name is different it is Veno.
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Augustus T. Ralls 1929 Walsh's Directory p 172
Walsh
"Ralls, Augustus T. (Mary E) janitor, h 103 Brown"
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Henry Minns 1929 Walsh's Directory p 155
Walsh
" Minns, Henry lab. r 505 W. Burgess." In the 1929 Walsh Directory it is Minns.
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Bessie Simmons, 1929 Walsh's Directory p 185
Walsh
" Simmons Bessie Mrs, h 609 N. Sandusky," In the 1929 Walsh's Directory Bessie was the one in the directory.
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Hattie Lewis, 1929 Walsh's Directory p 140
Walsh
" Lewis Hattie A. wid D.D. h 100 W Ohio Ave." Widowed by the 1929 directory.
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Albert Hywarden, 1929 Walsh City Directory, Mt Vernon Ohio
Walsh
"Hywarden, Albert (Florence), laborer , h 3 Thistle Road."
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Robert Casis, Walsh 1933 Mt. Vernon City Directory
Walsh
" Casis, Robert U. (Daisy) janitor, h. 15 Prospect. "
