3 Replies Latest reply on Jun 7, 2019 10:17 AM by Becca Simons

    Asterisks In Front of Names In City Directories

    Martha Carter Newbie
    Martha Carter May 28, 2019 1:28 PM

      Hello,

      I use City Directories quite frequently in my genealogy research. I have noticed in many of the Directories that there is an asterisk in front of an individual person's name. After checking the abbreviation section in each City Directory I am at a loss as to what the asterisk might designate. I do not see it every time I have seen an ancestor's name. I am sure that someone here must know what this is used for. Thanks in advance for any assistance on this.

      M. Carter

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        • Re: Asterisks In Front of Names In City Directories
          J. Andrew Scout
          J. Andrew Jun 1, 2019 8:00 PM (in response to Martha Carter)

          I should imagine that there is no single answer to that, as city directories would have been produced at the local level and there would have been no nationwide standard.

          • Re: Asterisks In Front of Names In City Directories
            Martha Carter Newbie
            Martha Carter Jun 6, 2019 9:47 PM (in response to Martha Carter)

            Most of the city directories I am referring to are produced by R.L. Polk City Directories, a company that has been in business since 1870. In any given year, they published directories for multiple cities. I highly recommend this source to all of my genealogy friends. I finally found the answer to my question and I am posting it here in case someone else needs this information.

             

            In a 1911 Directory, after the Abbreviation section, it states, “An asterisk (*) before a name denotes colored.”

             

            As I stated previously, sometimes the asterisk is there and sometimes it is not so I assume that it was subjective and up to the enumerator. I do come across that from time to time.

             

            Happy Researching!

            • Re: Asterisks In Front of Names In City Directories
              Becca Simons Scout
              Becca Simons Expert Jun 7, 2019 10:17 AM (in response to Martha Carter)

              Dear Ms. Carter,

               

              Thank you for posting your request on History Hub!

               

              The date and location often determines what the asterisks meant. In a number of locations, asterisks usually was used to denote race of African American residents. In other cases, it was used to denote a new resident at a given address. Unfortunately, the directories did not include a key to the symbols used.

               

              We hope this information is helpful.

               

              [Information provided by Elizabeth Burnes, Subject Matter Expert]