Where can you find information about phone books from 1980?

Your state's library and archives provide information about phonebooks from the 1980s or before. The phonebooks are gathered across the state and serve as a proof of location and time for people and businesses in a particular area or town.

Most states, including Wyoming and Tennessee, provide an online catalog-style database that indicates the telephone directory's available years and its primary community or town of origin. Before paying a visit to the nearest state library, check the library's website first, if applicable, to see if it holds a phonebook from 1980. The Library of Congress Local History and Genealogy Reference Services also saves U.S. telephone directories from 1976 to 1995 on microfiche.