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Author:
Angela Cannon, Reference Specialist, European Division
Note: This guide is adapted from an earlier version, which first appeared on the European Reading Room website in 2004.
Created: January 11, 2020
Last Updated: February 16, 2022
Most of the foreign telephone directories held by the Library of Congress are uncataloged. We have therefore compiled this list of directories from the former country of Yugoslavia as a finding aid for our staff and researchers. These directories from 1935 through 1995 cover all of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia or Communist Yugoslavia, but not Yugoslavia when it consisted of just Serbia, Kosovo, and Montenegro. See also the finding aid for directories from countries which were once part of Yugoslavia which may contain relevant listings. In addition to the uncataloged directories listed below, the Library also holds a handful that are cataloged and may be requested using the online catalog. To locate these directories, search the Library of Congress Online Catalog using subject keywords such as "Yugoslavia" and "directories," or the name of a republic and "directories," or the name of a city plus "directories." In addition to telephone directories, this kind of search also yields business/address directories from Yugoslavia. Additionally, the Library of Congress holds two microfilm sets of telephone directories the contents of which are included in the list.
The finding aid, which represents Library of Congress holdings as of January 2020, is arranged chronologically by the year prominently displayed on the cover of the piece, which may or may not be the actual date of publication (i.e., a directory will often have one year in large print on the cover, and a different, usually earlier, year of publication elsewhere). The type of directory is indicated by the words "residential," "organizational," or "both" for directories that include both business and private numbers.
Many of the directories from former Yugoslavia include both organizational and residential listings mixed together. Until the early 1970s, very few directories provided a separate "yellow pages" section, although many had a section of additional advertisements at the end.
All directories are in the Latin alphabet unless otherwise noted. In addition to an alphabetical arrangement by surname, business name, occupation or trade, many directories provide a numerical listing of entries arranged by phone number to determine who held a particular number for a given year. This feature is indicated in the notes field with the words "numerical index." Often the notes field will have a statement beginning with words such as "Stanje," "Po stanju," or "Položba," followed by a date. This statement is taken either from the title page or title page verso and can be translated loosely as "the situation as of a given date." It merely offers more precise dating for the contents of the directory.
Besides using printed telephone directories, a reader may find it helpful to use online directories available for free on the Internet, however online directories usually do not have historical depth. They contain only current listings.
Telephone directories are used by genealogists and historians to identify people and businesses from a particular place and era. This guide lists the directories from Bosnia & Herzegovina in the Library of Congress collections.
Telephone directories are used by genealogists and historians to identify people and businesses from a particular place and era. This guide lists the directories from Croatia in the Library of Congress collections.
Telephone directories are used by genealogists and historians to identify people and businesses from a particular place and era. This guide lists the directories from Kosovo in the Library of Congress collections.
Telephone directories are used by genealogists and historians to identify people and businesses from a particular place and era. This guide lists the directories from Montenegro in the Library of Congress collections.
Telephone directories are used by genealogists and historians to identify people and businesses from a particular place and era. This guide lists the directories from North Macedonia in the Library of Congress collections.
Telephone directories are used by genealogists and historians to identify people and businesses from a particular place and era. This guide lists the directories from Serbia in the Library of Congress collections.
Telephone directories are used by genealogists and historians to identify people and businesses from a particular place and era. This guide lists the directories from Slovenia in the Library of Congress collections.