Directories are publications that contain more information than just a map or aeronautical chart.  Directories generally will list the airport / airfield / landing field's coordinates or directions, runway information, availability of services, contacts, and local support capabilities (transportation, hotel/motel, food, etc.).  Some of these directories will also provide layouts of the runways, ramps, hangars, taxiways, etc.

After WW1, aviation development started in earnest in the USA.  Initially, the US Post Office Department started airmail and issued contracts to startup airlines to carry the mail.  Much has been written about this era so I wont go into it.  The Post Office department did produce information for pilots.  The Army Aviation Corp also produced documents.  One was the "AERONAUTICAL BULLETIN" which covered each state and described all known airfields.  This was updated periodically.  By the mid 1920s, this was taken over by the Dept. of Commerce and was the forerunner to the "DESCRIPTIONS OF AIRPORTS AND LANDING FIELDS IN THE UNITED STATES - Airway Bulletin No 2".  These "AERONAUTICAL BULLETIN" are very rare items.  Best sources would be libraries.

The Navy also produced a publication called the NAVAL AIR PILOT (NAP no. 74), mainly covering seaplane bases and facilities.  It is unclear what happened to this series.

There were other publications that dealt mainly with routes and airways.  I am not referencing them as they are generally not used for airfield searching.

The Department of Commerce, Aeronautics Branch, Washington, published "AERONAUTICS BULLETIN No.5".  This had been previously referred to as "INFORMATION BULLETIN No. 5".  This document provided a list of airports, CAA Intermediate airfields and auxiliary landing fields.  Since this is only a list, little data can be gathered other than the existence of an airfield.  I have one of these dated April 15, 1929.  This version stated that "there are of record more than 4,000 other fields in the US on which landings may be made - owned by the States, municipalities, corporations, clubs, commissions and individuals" that are not part of this bulletin's listing.  The list appears to have about 1,000 fields listed and a section of planned new fields.

The Department of Commerce (DOC) started to produce a directory (U.S. Department of Commerce - Aeronautics Branch "DESCRIPTIONS OF AIRPORTS AND LANDING FIELDS IN THE UNITED STATES - Airway Bulletin No. 2") which listed all known airfields in the USA.  This document was produced from about 1928-1929 to the early 1938.  It was published twice a year.  First release being the first of the year (January) and second in September of each year.  In 1939, the document name changed to Bulletin #11.  It is not exactly clear when these were discontinued, but the last known ones were made in 1941.  It may have been a decision to discontinue them during the war for security reasons.  These are invaluable in learning about early airfields.  You can find them from time to time at used book stores or on Ebay.  They typically cost between $40 and $80 depending upon condition and rarity.  (I currently own four - 1931, 1934, 1936 and 1938.) I suspect that these directories were not printed during the war years (1942-45).  The AIRMAN'S GUIDE was the follow on publication to this series.

Another publication was the AIRMAN'S GUIDE put out by the Dept. of Commerce/CAA.  This was the forerunner to the current AIRPORT/FACILITY DIRECTORY.  The AIRMAN'S GUIDE were started about 1945.  These basically replaced the earlier "DESCRIPTIONS OF AIRPORTS AND LANDING FIELDS IN THE UNITED STATES - Airway Bulletin No 2".  I have one of the AIRMAN'S GUIDE "Vol. 1, No. 21 . . January 7, 1947.  I am unclear as to when they stopped printing this publication.  These publications contained a list of airfields, approach charts for selected airports and other navigational data.  The started off being sold for $0.30 individually or $7.50 for a years' subscription.  They were 8.5 x 11.5 inches in size.  These were printed on newspaper and as such, become yellowed and fragile with age.  The old ones must be handled with care to prevent them for breaking or tearing.  If you can find them, they can range in cost from about $10 to as much as $100.

The United States Army & Navy publication DIRECTORY OF AIRFIELDS (Continental United States) issued by Headquarters Aeronautical Chart Service Army Air Forces in Washington DC was produced.  The publication was compiled by Dept. of Commerce - Civil Aeronautics Administration - Washington DC.  It is unclear just how many of these were produced.  On the cover of the one I have (dated Nov. 9, 1944 with an effective date of Dec. 1, 1944) and is marked RESTRICTED.  It states on the front that it is published bi-monthly.  This may have been what took over the earlier DOC Bulletin No. 2 and No. 11 after WW2 started and used for the military.  Are there others versions of this document still available?  I don't know.  The one that I have is a reproduction printed by Portrayal Press of Andover, N.J. and can be purchased for $30.00. 

Currently the AIRPORT / FACILITY DIRECTORY is printed by the FAA/NOAA.  Due to the size, it is broken down into seven publications covering the United States.  These are: 1) Northeast; 2) Southeast; 3) East Central; 4) North Central; 5); South Central; 6) Southwest; and 7) Northwest.  Again, these are no longer absolutely complete - meaning not covering all small private airfields.  The current publication also uses newspaper so they will not stand up well to time either.  The current publications are 5.5 by 8.25 inches in size.  These are reprinted approximately every eight weeks.  Since these directories become obsolete every 6 months or less, they are considered as throw away and are printed on cheap paper (newspaper).

Commercial produced directories were also available.  One that is highly prized is the "AIRPORTS ESTABLISHED LANDING FIELDS and SEAPLANE BASES IN THE UNITED STATES" published by THE AIRPORT DIRECTORY COMPANY of Hackensack, NJ.  The ADC (Airport Directory Company) published a subscription service where by a pilot could get a monthly update.  These are really neat in they have a lot of pictures of the airfields.  These directories are very hard to find and can cost from $175 to $300 though one was reported to have sold on Ebay about a year ago for only about $40.  (I currently have two - 1934 and 1939.)

Oil / Petroleum companies often produced directories, but these were more restricted to the airfields that sold there aviation products.  Gulf Refining Company produced a series call AVIATION ATLAS.  This publication mainly used data from the U.S. Navy and Army, Dept. of Commerce and the Post Office.  More of a historical overview than a serious directory, they often had a few photographs and a historical chronological review of notable aviation events and personalities.  I don't know how many of these were published.  I have a single copy that is listed as the 1935-1936 fourth edition.  Based on this, one could assume that the first was produced in the 1929-1930 time frame (first edition).  Occasionally I have scene these turn up on Ebay.

Other map makers also produced directories and maps.  The best of these were produced by Rand McNally and they were called STANDARD INDEXED MAP WITH AIR TRAILS.  These were produced for each state.  They went for the princely sum of $0.50 - at that time a large amount of money.  These are rare to find but they do turn up from time to time.  The main printing (that I am aware of) seems to have been in 1929.  I don't know if they produced one for each state (total would have been 48 at the time) or not.  These often contained a lot of other data than just airways.  Railroads, boats, highway and other things were incorporated.  These were printed for possible carrying in a large pocket.  These were 4.25 inches wide and 9.25 inches tall.  The map was folded and glued to the back cover.  Some of these that come on the market have the map torn out.  I have only two - Illinois and Louisiana.  They are rare and hard to find.

Other producers of directories (that I am aware of) include:

1.  THE AIRPORT DIRECTORY published by The HAIRE PUBLISHING COMPANY of New York City, NY.  These started in 1932 however, the directory was not printed during the war years of 1942 through 1944 and resumed printing in 1945.  The 1946 version was identified as the 11th edition.  You can find these for about $40 to $80 from 1945 onwards.  I have not scene any of them prior to 1945.  (I personally have a 1946 and 1948 ones.)

2.  The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) directory "AOPA's Airports USA".  I am not sure just when these started, but copies of it go back to the early 1950s that I am aware of and continue to publish today.  Old ones can run upwards of $50.  Old ones were printed on newspaper quality paper and so that can be fragile if you get one.  (I have a sampling of these from 1966 to the present - 1966, 1968, 1970, 1976, 1984, 1991 and several recent editions.)

3.  FLIGHT GUIDE - Airport and Frequency Manual - published by Airguide Publications, Inc., of Long Beach, CA.  I am not sure when they started, but I have copies from the early 1970s and they are still publishing.

4.  JEPPGUIDE AIRPORT DIRECTORY - published by Jeppsen (which I believe is now owned by The Boeing Company) and continues to be a major producer of aeronautical products.

5.  AVIATION ATLAS produced by Sky Prints of St. Louis, MO.  I am unsure of the period they published or if they are still publishing.  I have a few made in the 1970s.

6.  The AIRPORT AND BUSINESS FLYING DIRECTORY published by McGraw-Hill Publications as part of the Aviation Week magazine.  I am uncertain of the exact time frame these were published, but I believe they started in the 1930s.  I am unsure when they discontinued publishing them.  (I have 1953, 1957 and 1960 copies in my collection.)

A number of the states produce there own directories for airports/airfields/landing fields in there respective state.  I am not sure I know exactly all of the states that produce their own directories, but currently I know of: Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Texas and Wisconsin.  I have seen reference to New Hampshire and Georgia as having directories.  Some of the states directories are abridged versions as they do not cover all airfields in the state (Texas is a good example).  To the best of my knowledge, state directories did not come into usage until after WW2.  I have a few 1946 directories for some states.

There were other publications that offered directories.  Most were not very complete or were specialized.  The military, mainly the USAF, had publications for pilots.  I don't have much info on these but as I get it, I will update this area to include them.