Introduction

Before you begin to search for information about a Delaware company, you ought to consider whether the company is a publicly-owned corporation with a local plant or office, or whether the company operates only in the local area under consideration. There are several directories that cover publicly-owned firms. These directories are listed on a Reference Department research guide entitled "Business Directories."

Companies which operate within a local area or region are covered in the sources listed below. Since many of the companies which operate only in small areas are privately owned, there may not be much, if any, information available about them. Directories may list the company's name, address, principal personnel, number of employees, principal products and perhaps annual sales. Keep in mind that privately-owned companies will not have published an annual report. Additional sources of information are local newspapers or the Yellow Pages of a telephone directory.

State And Regional Directories

Business Firms Directory: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware. Philadelphia: Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. Annual.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HF5041 .B85)

Lists nearly 12,000 businesses, hospitals, and institutions of higher learning located in the 11-county Delaware Valley area. Arranged alphabetically, geographically, and numerically by Standard Industrial Classification code number.

Dalton Philadelphia Metro Directory: Business/Industry. Haverford, PA: Dalton's Directory. Annual.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HF5041 .D35)

Covers over 14,000 businesses in the Delaware Valley area, along with 70,000 executives. Each firm is listed alphabetically, geographically, and numerically by Standard Industrial Classification code number. Publicly owned companies are marked with a "P".

Delaware Business Directory. Omaha, NE: American Directory Publishing Co. Annual.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HF5065 .D3 D45)

Over 22,000 businesses with ten or more employees, taken from the Yellow Pages, are listed. Main listing includes company name, address, telephone number, and SIC code number. Divided into four sections: Businesses by Yellow Page Category, Manufacturing Companies by City & SIC Code, Businesses by City, and a Reference Index.

Delaware Directory of Commerce and Industry. Wilmington: Delaware State Chamber of Commerce. Biennial.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HC107 .D3 D45)

Listing of over 6,000 businesses alphabetically, numerically by Standard Classification code number, and geographically.

Directory of Central Atlantic States Manufacturers. Boston: George D. Hall. Annual.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HC107 .A12 D54)

Covers firms in the states of Delaware, Maryland, North and South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. Firms are listed alphabetically, geographically, and numerically by product. Information includes company name, address, telephone number, Standard Industrial Classification code number and number of employees, and products manufactured.

Dun's Regional Business Directory: Philadelphia Area. Parsippany, NJ: Dun's Marketing Services, Inc. Annual.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HF5041 .D86)

Lists over 170,000 businesses in twenty-two counties from four states including all of Delaware. Volume 1 has top 1,000 businesses ranked by sales volume and employee size. Volumes 1 and 2 list firms geographically by city and state. Volume 3 has a Standard Industrial Classification index and an alphabetic index. Main entries give name, address, telephone number, number of employees, sales, year started, SIC numbers, and major officers.

Greater Delaware Valley Regional Industrial Buying Guide. New York: Thomas Regional Directory Co., Inc. Annual.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HD9723 .G74)

Divided into three sections: "Products and Services Section" lists alphabetically over 3,500 goods and services; "A-Z Company Index" covers over 24,000 firms in alphabetical order; "Products and Services Index" provides cross references for product headings. Guide covers New Castle Country, Delaware, southern New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvania. Some advertisements are also included.

MacRae's State Industrial Directory: Maryland, District of Columbia, Delaware. New York: MacRae's Blue Book, Inc. Annual.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HD9727 .M3 M336)

Firms are listed by product or service, by company name, by county and city, and by Standard Industrial Classification code number. Information includes name, address, telephone number, gross sales, number of employees, SIC code number, key executives, and research facilities. Updated information is available online at Macraebluebook.com.

MacRae's State Industrial Directory: New Jersey. New York: Macrae's Blue Book, Inc. Annual.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HC107 .N5 N48)
Updated information is available online at Macraebluebook.com.

MacRae's State Industrial Directory: Pennsylvania. New York: MacRae's Blue Book, Inc. Annual
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HD9723 .P45) Updated information is available online at Macraebluebook.com.

Marketing Economics Key Plants. Jamaica Estates, NY: Marketing Economics Institute, Ltd. Two volumes with supplement. Irregular.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HC102. M25)

Covers 40,000 plants with 100+ employees. Volume 1 lists plants by Standard Industrial Classification code number. Volume 2 lists plants by state and county within nine regions. Entries give name, address, telephone number, SIC number, and number of employees (in thousands.) Introduction gives step-by-step example of how to use this directory.

Maryland Business Directory. Omaha, NE: American Directory Publishing Co. Annual.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HF5065 .M25 M285)

Lists over 149,000 businesses. Organized in the same manner as Delaware Business Directory (see above).

Maryland Industrial Directory. Maryland Department of Economic and Employment Development. Twinsburg, OH: Harris Publishing Company. Annual.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HD9723 .D43)

Covers over 4,600 manufacturing plants in the state of Maryland. Firms are listed geographically, numerically by Standard Industrial Classification code number, alphabetically, and by product. Additional tables provide various statistical summaries on companies and employees.

New Jersey Business Directory. Omaha, NE: American Directory Publishing Co., Inc. Annual.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HF5065 .N5 N42)

A comprehensive directory of New Jersey businesses and other establishments. It is a directory of establishments rather than business activities only. Such operations as churches, social services, etc. are also included in this directory. Provides basic telephone directory information in addition to business activity related information when available.

New Jersey Manufacturers Directory. Boston: George D. Hall Company. Annual.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HD9727 .N5 G46)

Firms are listed alphabetically, geographically, and numerically by Standard Industrial Classification code number. Information includes name, address, telephone number, SIC number, number of employees, and products.

Pennsylvania Business Directory. 2 vols. Omaha, NE: American Directory Publishing Co. Annual.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HF5065 .P4 P46)

Covers over 392,000 businesses. Organized in the same manner as Delaware Business Directory (see above).

U.S. Manufacturers Directory. 2 vols. Omaha, NE: American Business Directories. Annual.
Location: Morris Library - Reference (Ref HD9723 .U27)

Listed are over 200,000 manufacturers (10 or more employees) compiled from the yellow pages. Volume I lists companies by city and state, and large companies by city. Listings give name, address, telephone number, employee size, executive name, SIC number, and sales volume. Volume II lists companies by Standard Industrial Classification code number and alphabetically. Also gives number of firms by SIC code number, state, and county.

Local Newspapers

Current issues are in the Periodicals Room on the First Floor. Back issues are on microfilm in the Micromedia Area on the Lower Level.

Philadelphia Inquirer.
Location: Morris Library - Microforms (Microfilm S 410)
Location: Microforms (CD-ROM 169)

Wilmington News Journal.
Location: Morris Library - Microforms (Film S 7)
Location: Library Databases

Assisted Computer Searching

American Business Directory.
Location: Morris Library - Computerized service by request at Reference Desk (DIALOG, file 531)

In-depth information on virtually every business in the USA. Provide current mailing, industrial or professional, demographic and key executive information. Strong industrial breakdowns using six-digit SIC code and major product brand codes.

Dun's Market Identifiers.
Location: Morris Library - Computerized service by request at Reference Desk (DIALOG, file 516)

Presents brief information on over 6.9 million U.S. business establishments which have 10 or more companies with $1 million or more in sales.

Vertical File

The library maintains a vertical file on most local companies in the Reference Room. The information kept in the vertical files varies from annual reports, 10K reports, news clippings on local companies, and other economic and related information.

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