The Catholic Directories or Almanacs provide information concerning the Roman Catholic archdioceses and dioceses of the United States, their clergy and parishes, and the religious orders and Catholic institutions that operate within them, including schools, seminaries, monasteries, convents, hospitals, and orphanages. They often have similar information on the Catholic Church in Canada, Great Britain, and Ireland.

In 1995 Mark G. Thiel compiled an Index to the Catholic Directories for the United States with Appended Countries, 1817, 1822, 1833- , published by Marquette University. We have a copy of this index, which serves as a supplementary finding aid for the collection.

Various publishers produced these directories or almanacs and used various titles; in some years more than one publisher offered a volume.

Laity's Directory to the Church Service ( New York : M. Field, 1817 ) .

Laity's Directory to the Church Service ( New York : William H. Creagh, 1822 ) .

The United States Catholic Almanac or Laity's Directory for the Year of Our Lord . . . Title varies. ( Baltimore : James Myers, 1833-1837 ) .

The Metropolitan Catholic Almanac and Laity's Directory for the Year of Our Lord . . . ( Baltimore : Fielding Lucas, Jr., 1838-1857 ) .

Dunigan's American Catholic Almanac and List of the Clergy for the Year of Our Lord . . . ( New York : Edward Dunigan and Brother, James R. Kicker, 1858-1859 ) .

The Metropolitan Catholic Almanac and Laity's Directory for the United States ( Baltimore : John Murphy, 1859-1861 ) .

Sadlier's Catholic Almanac and Ordo for the Year of Our Lord . . . Title varies. ( New York : D. and J. Sadlier, 1864-1891 ) .

Hoffmanns Catholic Directory, Almanac, and Clergy List Quarterly. Title varies. ( Milwaukee : Hoffmann Brothers, 1886-1899 ) .

The Catholic Directory, Almanac, and Clergy List Quarterly. Title varies. ( Milwaukee : N.W. Wiltzius, 1900-1911 ) .

The Official Catholic Directory. ( New York : P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1912- ) .