How do I look up a Manhattan phone number from the late 1970's?
August 10, 2021 7:51 AM   Subscribe

I'm trying to do a records request and they need the phone number I grew up with and which I would have been too young to remember. But I know we were in the phone book. So how do I find one from Manhattan from the mid to late 1970's? And can I do it online?
posted by rileyray3000 to Grab Bag (8 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Call or chat the NYPL? Seems like something a librarian would be happy to help you track down.

https://www.nypl.org/get-help/contact-us
posted by david1230 at 7:58 AM on August 10, 2021 [10 favorites]


Here was an auction on eBay for a 1976 Manhattan directory. Asking $50. Did not sell. Consider contacting the seller and asking to look up your number or buy it from them. Scroll down.
posted by AugustWest at 8:52 AM on August 10, 2021


My partner has what you need. Sending you a message.
posted by kimdog at 8:58 AM on August 10, 2021 [7 favorites]


The Public Library likely has them on microfiche somewhere, possibly at the central branch. You will need to reach out to them to figure out where, and you may need to make an appointment to access the materials and a reader.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 10:19 AM on August 10, 2021 [1 favorite]


For future searchers, the scanned & OCR'ed records at Ancestry.com now contain a lot of phone directories for smaller places than New York, and older than the 1970s.

If you really need it, perhaps a one-month subscription would be worth it.
posted by wenestvedt at 11:47 AM on August 10, 2021


For future searchers: some public libraries subscribe to Ancestry.com and offer access to it either at their locations or remotely.
posted by box at 12:11 PM on August 10, 2021 [3 favorites]


I'd contact the NYPL.

When I was in Milwaukee a few years ago, and wanted to look up the exact street address where my parents lived when I was a teen, they had the phonebooks available. I was able to check one out, and take a photo of the address.
posted by spinifex23 at 12:24 PM on August 10, 2021


Ancestry.com shows all my old phone numbers
posted by cda at 5:05 PM on August 10, 2021


« Older Finding a therapist while also moving interstate   |   Internet connectivity for the disabled in New... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.