SLATER’S DIRECTORY 1881 – ONLINE!
by mariocorrigan on November 17, 2007
Introduction:
One of the most valuable sources for local history are Trade Directories. In 2002, the Local Studies Department decided to extract all articles and individual records pertaining to Co. Kildare and make them available in database and text form. This therefore compliments the original work but offers the researcher easy access to the relevant Co. Kildare articles and easy access to the genealogical and other information by means of a searchable database covering all the entries.
One of the most valuable sources for local history are Trade Directories. In 2002, the Local Studies Department decided to extract all articles and individual records pertaining to Co. Kildare and make them available in database and text form. This therefore compliments the original work but offers the researcher easy access to the relevant Co. Kildare articles and easy access to the genealogical and other information by means of a searchable database covering all the entries.
There was an enormous amount of inputting, typing and re-editing of the material once the initial database was created and the overall format of the project decided upon. This project could not have been completed without the support of Co. Librarian Breda Gleeson and the History and Family Research Centre. Likewise it could not have been completed without the aid of Eric Kemp and later, Niamh McCabe and Mark Kennedy who worked on it separately during the summers of 2003-2006. Much gratitude is due to them for their enthusiasm, patience and editing abilities. Any mistakes are mine and I welcome criticism and advice should mistakes be noted so that corrections can be made. Copies of the original are available in the Local Studies Department of Kildare County Library.
The directory entries offer a snapshot of life in Co. Kildare between the Famine and the arrival of Local Government in 1899. It is a source I use regularly in research and constantly recommend to people who are researching Ireland in the 19th Century. For people trying to trace their ancestors in Co. Kildare it will hopefully provide an insight into their ancestor’s lives and into the locality in which they lived or even more importantly help identify their ancestors for them.
I do hope that researchers and enthusiasts find it useful. It is part of the process of making primary and secondary material available via the Internet which has been undertaken by the combined departments of Local Studies, Genealogy and Archives, to encourage people to engage in local history and genealogy as well as increasing accessibility to the Local Studies Collection in Kildare County Library and other information by means of a searchable database covering all 2,281 entries.
LINKS:-
The
list of newspapers held on microfilm in Kildare Co. Library, Local Studies, Genealogy and Archives Dept., has also been updated.
Mario Corrigan
Local Studies
Nov. 2007
Fully searcahble database of Slater’s Directory for 1881 is now available online as part of the online resources made available by Local Studies, Genealogy and Archives Dept., Kildare Co. Library. Particluar thanks to Beatrice of kildare.ie and Niamh McCabe.
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