Library Guides: Company Information: Directories

Online Directories

ReferenceUSA has the largest universe of US companies but limits the amount of data you can download. NexisUni is international in scope while S&P is best for large US companies. Online directories are primarily only current information.

Data Axle Reference Solutions (formerly ReferenceUSA) This link opens in a new window
Directory database that covers the U.S. and Canada. Screen by geography, revenue, employee size and more. Includes corporate linkage showing parent and subsidiary relationships.
Nexis Uni This link opens in a new window
Formerly LexisNexis Academic
A full-text news and information service that provides access to newspapers, magazines, news wires, news transcripts, business, and legal information. Dates of coverage vary by title.
S&P Global NetAdvantage This link opens in a new window
Features S & P's Industry Surveys, which provide macro-level analysis of 56 major industries. Also includes company profiles and financial data with analyst rankings of investment potential as well information about company executives.
InfoGroup Historical Business Data This link opens in a new window
Yearly snapshots of the Data-Axle database available for download as flat files. Requires software such as R or Python for use.
Historical directory information for U.S. companies, including name, address, estimated sales and number of employees. Data are geocoded and include Census tract.

Data are available for each year as one flat file. Statistical software is necessary to extract and manipulate the data. Please review the terms and conditions of use before downloading.

Print Directories

The Library collected print directories for many years, but phased this out as online directories became available. Print directories can be useful for historical research. This is a selected list of major directories:

Standard & Poor's Register of Corporations, Directors and Executives
U.S. companies, covers 1973 - 2014.
The preceding title, "Poor's register of corporations...", covers 1928 - 1972 and is shelved in the same section.
Also includes biographical information.
Million Dollar Directory
U.S. companies compiled by Dun and Bradstreet. 1959 - 2004
Principal International Businesses
1974- 2014.
Compiled by Dun & Bradstreet
Directory of Corporate Affiliations
1973 -2002
Includes corporate hierarchies
LexisNexis Corporate Affiliations
2002 -2012.
Continues the Directory of Corporate Affiliations, held in Mansueto Library