Reference Collection: City Directories

The Library has an extensive collection of Rhode Island city directories and directories for some Massachusetts cities, including Attleboro and Fall River. Directories are located in the first floor reading room. City directories are arranged alphabetically by resident. Business listings are usually listed within the residential listings and in a separate section categorized by business type. Directories may also include lists of streets and wards, associations and organizations and advertisements.  

For Providence, the library also has a run of house directories dating from 1892 to 1933. House directories are arranged by street address instead of resident.

The list below includes both Rhode Island and Massachusetts cities/towns in alphabetical order. Please note that in the actual directories, some cities/towns may be combined. For instance, Barrington, Bristol and Warren are listed separately below, but in many cases their respective directories will include two of the three towns or all three. Please contact reference staff if you have any questions.

Apponaug (Warwick) | Attleboro, MA | Barrington | Bellingham, MA | Blackstone, MA | Block Island (New Shoreham) | Bristol | Burrillville | Central Falls | Charlestown | Coventry | Cranston | Cumberland | Dighton, MA | East Greenwich | East Providence | Exeter | Fall River, MA | Glocester | Hopkinton | Jamestown | Johnston | Lincoln | Little Compton | Middletown | Millville, MA | Narragansett | Newport | New Shoreham (Block Island) | North Attleboro, MA | North Kingstown | North Providence | North Smithfield | Northwest Rhode Island | Pawcatuck, CT | Pawtucket, RI | Pawtuxet Valley (Warwick, West Warwick, Cranston, Coventry) | Plainville, MA | Portsmouth | Providence | Providence House Directories | Providence North Area | Providence South Area | Rehoboth, MA | Rhode Island Business Directory | Richmond | Seekonk, MA | Smithfield | Somerset, MA | South Kingstown | Swansea, MA | Taunton, MA | Tiverton | Warren | Warwick | West Warwick | Westerly | Wickford (North Kingstown) | Woonsocket

APPONAUG (WARWICK)
1907, 1909-1912

ATTLEBORO, MA
1897, 1899, 1901, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1913, 1915, 1917, 1918, 1923-1925, 1927-1933, 1935-1937, 1939-1942, 1944, 1946, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968-1978, 1980, 1982-1985, 1986, 1988

BARRINGTON: see also Bristol or Warren/Barrington
1890, 1891, 1897, 1908, 1910, 1913, 1914, 1917, 1918, 1922, 1925, 1927, 1930, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1940, 1942, 1947, 1950, 1954, 1963, 1965-1969, 1971-1978, 1980 (1981-1997 title is "Bristol County")

BELLINGHAM, MA
1928 (see suburban Woonsocket)
1968 (see Northwest Rhode Island)

BLACKSTONE, MA
1928 (see suburban Woonsocket)
1968, 1969 (see Northwest Rhode Island)

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BLOCK ISLAND: see New Shoreham

BRISTOL, RI
1876, 1877, 1881, 1882, 1887, 1890, 1891, 1897, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1913, 1914, 1917, 1918, 1922, 1925, 1927, 1930, 1935, 1936, 1938 ,1940-1943, 1947, 1950, 1954, 1963, 1965-1969, 1971-1978, 1981, 1983-1985, 1987, 1990, 1993-1997 (1981-1997 title is "Bristol County")

BURRILLVILLE, RI
1910, 1923
1968, 1969 (see Northwest Rhode Island)

CENTRAL FALLS: see also Pawtucket and Central Falls
1869-1881, 1887-1893, 1895-1907, 1909-1919, 1921-1953, 1955-1980, 1983-1985, 1987, 1989, 1991

CHARLESTOWN: see also Hopkinton and Charlestown
1917, 1922-1925 

1965, 1966 (see Narragansett/Westerly)

COVENTRY
1892-1929 (see Pawtuxet Valley)
1936-1986 (see West Warwick)

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 CRANSTON
1890-1898 (see Johnston and Cranston)

1895, 1896, 1911, 1913, 1916, 1918, 1920, 1922-1934, 1936, 1938-1943, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963-1965, 1967-1980, 1982-1984, 1987, 1990

CUMBERLAND 
1909, 1911, 1913, 1915, 1917, 1919, 1922, 1925, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1937, 1939, 1941, 1954, 1955, 1966, 1968, 1970-1972, 1974- 1978, 1980, 1982-1983, 1985, 1986, 1988
1968-1969 (see Northwest Rhode Island)

 DIGHTON, MA  

1955, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1971

 EAST GREENWICH
1907, 1909-1912 (see Apponaug)

1914, 1915, 1920, 1921, 1936, 1938, 1940, 1942, 1948, 1949, 1952

1980-1989 (see Warwick)

 EAST PROVIDENCE
1887-1888 (see Bristol)

1890, 1892, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1902, 1905, 1906, 1913, 1915, 1917, 1919, 1921-1933, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1941-1944, 1946, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1965-1970, 1972-1978, 1980, 1982-1987

EXETER: 
1965, 1966 (see Narragansett/Westerly)

 FALL RIVER, MA  

1876, 1878, 1882, 1884, 1885, 1887-1891, 1893, 1894, 1896-1901, 1906-1919, 1921-1947, 1949-1977, 1979-1981, 1984-1988

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GLOCESTER: 
1926, 1928, 1931 (see North Providence)

1968, 1969 (see Northwest Rhode Island)

 HOPKINTON
1917, 1922-1923, 1924-1925

1965, 1966 (see Narragansett/Westerly)

JAMESTOWN 
1912, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1922-1931, 1936, 1937, 1948, 1953, 1956, 1959, 1962, 1964, 1967

JOHNSTON: see also North Providence
1890, 1892, 1894-1896, 1898, 1910, 1916, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1931, 1937, 1939, 1941

 LINCOLN: see also Cumberland/Lincoln
1909, 1911, 1913, 1915, 1917, 1919, 1922, 1925, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1937, 1939, 1941, 1954, 1955, 1966, 1968, 1970-1972, 1974-1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1988

1968, 1969 (see Northwest Rhode Island)

LITTLE COMPTON: see also Tiverton
1910, 1913-1917, 1919-1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1941 

1951, 1953, 1956, 1959, 1962, 1964, 1967 (see Jamestown)

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MIDDLETOWN: 

1910, 1913-1914, 1916, 1917, 1919-1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1941 (see Tiverton)

1951, 1953, 1956, 1959, 1962, 1964, 1967 (see Jamestown)

MILLVILLE, MA: see Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville or North Smithfield
1928 (see suburban Woonsocket)

 NARRAGANSETT: see also South Kingstown
(Narragansett Includes: Block Island, Exeter, Hopkinton, North Kingstown, Richmond, South Kingstown, West Greenwich and Westerly)

1910, 1915, 1925, 1927, 1930

1965, 1966 (see Narragansett/Westerly)

NEWPORT
1856-1858, 1863, 1865, 1867, 1869, 1870, 1879-1904, 1906-1964, 1966, 1968, 1970-1972, 1978-1979, 1981

 NEW SHOREHAM: see also Jamestown
1912, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1922-1931, 1936-1937 

1965, 1966 (see Narragansett/Westerly)

NORTH ATTLEBORO, MA: see also Attleboro
1897, 1899, 1901, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1913, 1915, 1917, 1918, 1923-1925, 1927-1933, 1935-1937, 1939-1942, 1944, 1946, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968-1980, 1982-1986, 1988

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 NORTH KINGSTOWN
1907, 1909-1912 ( see Apponaug)

1914, 1915, 1920-1922 (see Warwick)

1922-1928 (see East Greenwich, North Kingstown or Warwick)

1965, 1966 (see Narragansett/Westerly)

 NORTH PROVIDENCE
1910, 1916, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1931, 1937, 1939, 1941

1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1998 (see Providence)

NORTH SMITHFIELD: see also Woonsocket
1910, 1923, 1928, 1980-present

NORTHWEST RHODE ISLAND
1968-1969. Includes: Bellingham, Blackstone, Burrillville, Cumberland, Glocester, Lincoln, Smithfield, Woonsocket

PAWCATUCK, CT: see also Westerly
1885, 1886, 1888, 1890, 1892, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1900, 1901, 1904, 1906, 1908, 1910, 1912, 1914, 1916, 1918, 1920-1934, 1936, 1938-1943, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1965-1967, 1969, 1971-1980, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993

 PAWTUCKET 

1857, 1858, 1869-1881, 1887-1893, 1895-1907, 1909-1919, 1921-1953, 1955-1980, 1983-1985, 1987, 1989, 1991

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PAWTUXET VALLEY: includes parts of Warwick, West Warwick, Cranston, and Coventry
1894, 1896, 1908, 1909, 1911, 1913, 1915, 1917, 1919, 1920, 1924, 1927, 1929, 1944-1946

PLAINVILLE, MA: see also Attleboro
1897, 1899, 1901, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1913, 1915, 1917, 1918, 1923-1925, 1927-1933, 1935-1937, 1939-1942, 1944, 1946, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968-1980, 1982-1986, 1988

 PORTSMOUTH 

1910, 1913, 1914, 1916, 1917, 1919-1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1941 (see Little Compton, Middletown, Portsmouth or Tiverton)

1948, 1951, 1953, 1956, 1959, 1962, 1964, and 1967 (see Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Portsmouth or Tiverton)

PROVIDENCE
1824, 1826, 1828, 1830, 1832, 1836-1839, 1841, 1844, 1847, 1848, 1850, 1852-1870, 1874, 1878-1880, 1882, 1883, 1886, 1887, 1890, 1892, 1893, 1895-1901, 1903-1926, 1930, 1934-1937, 1939, 1941-1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1996, 1998, 1999 (some years are on microfilm)

PROVIDENCE HOUSE DIRECTORY 
1892, 1894-1901, 1903, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1911, 1913, 1916, 1917, 1919-1933

PROVIDENCE NORTH AREA
1996, 1998

PROVIDENCE SOUTH AREA
1996, 1998

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REHOBOTH, MA: see also Dighton, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset or Swansea
1955, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1971

RHODE ISLAND BUSINESS DIRECTORY
1868-1902 (incomplete) 

RICHMOND
1965, 1966 (see Narragansett/Westerly)

SEEKONK, MA: see also Dighton, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset or Swansea
1955, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1971

SMITHFIELD: see also North Providence or Johnston
1916, 1924, 1926, 1928, 1931, 1937, 1939, 1941

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SOMERSET, MA: see also Dighton, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset or Swansea
1955, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1971

 SOUTH KINGSTOWN
1910, 1915, 1925, 1927, 1930 

1965, 1966 (see Narragansett/Westerly)

SWANSEA, MA: see also Dighton, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset or Swansea
1955, 1957, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1971

TAUNTON, MA
1924-1944, 1985, 1986

 TIVERTON
1910, 1913, 1914, 1916, 1917, 1919-1925, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1941 

1948, 1951, 1953, 1956, 1959, 1962, 1964, 1967 (see Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Portsmouth or Tiverton)

WARREN: see also Bristol
1876, 1877, 1881, 1882, 1887, 1890, 1891, 1897, 1908, 1910, 1913, 1914, 1917, 1918, 1922, 1925, 1927, 1930, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1950, 1954, 1963, 1965-1969, 1971-1978, 1981, 1983-1985 (1981-1997 title is "Bristol County")

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 WARWICK
1914, 1915, 1920, 1921, 1936, 1938, 1940, 1942, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1959, 1960, 1963-1965, 1967, 1969-1985, 1987, 1989

1925-1928 (see East Greenwich, North Kingstown or Warwick)

 WEST WARWICK (Coventry)
For 1894-1929 (see Pawtuxet Valley)

1936, 1938, 1940, 1946, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1962, 1964, 1966-1968, 1970-1973, 1975-1982, 1984-1986, 1991

WESTERLY
1875, 1876, 1879, 1881, 1882, 1884-1886, 1888, 1890, 1892, 1894, 1896, 1898, 1900, 1901, 1904, 1906, 1908, 1910, 1912, 1914, 1916, 1918, 1920-1934, 1936, 1938-1943, 1945, 1946, 1948, 1950, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1965-1967, 1969, 1971-1980, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1992-1995

WICKFORD: see also Apponaug
1907, 1909-1912

 WOONSOCKET
For 1857-1873 (see Central Falls, Pawtucket and Woonsocket) 

1875, 1877, 1878, 1880, 1881, 1888, 1889, 1891-1947, 1949-1981, 1983-1986, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1996

1968, 1969 (see Northwest Rhode Island)

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