Asian Directories and Chronicles

The series of British books called the Asian Directories and Chronicles was published between 1860 and 1941; the National Library of Scotland collection ranges from 1917-1941.  Each volume provides listings of active corporations, foreign residents and government agencies of all nationalities for that year, together with their addresses in countries including Borneo, China, Indo-China, Japan, Korea and The Philippines.

They were compiled annually from many different local sources and research, and were a source of information for both Western states and communities of foreigners living in Asia. They included treaties, coverage of conflicts, changes in extra-territorial jurisdiction and courts of law, and currencies and taxes; the addresses of all corporations and institutions and consulates, as well as the occupations and employers of all the foreign residents together with their addresses. They also provided information about weights and measures, public holidays, festivals and traditions.