Free Library of Philadelphia
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1.  Where can I find the address and telephone number of a business?
2.  How can I find historic stock quotes?
3.  I have an old stock certificate. How can I find out if it has value?
1.  Where can I find the address and telephone number of a business?

Many companies now list their address and phone on their website. Search for a company's official website using you preferred search engine, such as Google or Yahoo. For smaller companies that may not have websites, search an online yellow pages such as Superpages. For larger companies and corporations, try Hoovers. Finally, if you are looking for a company that manufactures a certain product, use the Thomas Register online. 

For more in depth company information, you can search ReferenceUSA, Dun & Bradstreet's Million Dollar Database, or the Business and Company Resource Center database from your home or office  when you login with your Free Library card number and PIN. To get started, visit our database page.

ReferenceUSA, Dun & Bradstreet's Million Dollar Database, and Business and Company Resource Center are also available at all Free Library branches.

Of course, there are many more information sources available to you in the Business, Science & Industry Department at the Parkway Central Library. In addition to the electronic databases mentioned above, you can search Standard & Poor's NetAdvantage and Capital Changes Report Daily. The department also boasts a robust collection of print directories, including LexisNexis Corporate Affiliations, Dun and Bradstreet's directories, numerous industry-specific directories and much more.

For more information or to speak with a librarian contact the Business, Science & Industry Department at: 215-686-5394 or write erefbsi@freelibrary.org.

 
2.  How can I find historic stock quotes?

To find past stock quotes for companies whose stock is still being traded, search online using BigCharts or Yahoo Finance.  

For a stock that is no longer traded either because the firm is no longer in business or has merged with another company and changed its name, the Business, Science & Industry Department at the Parkway Central Library has daily stock records from the three major exchanges dating back to the 1960's. You may visit the department in person, call us at 215-686-5394 or write erefbsi@freelibrary,org for assistance.
3.  I have an old stock certificate. How can I find out if it has value?

A good place to start your research is in the Business, Science & Industry Department at Central Library. Capital Changes Reporter (CCH) is an online database that the library subscribes to. CCH will give you a history of splits, dividends, mergers, etc. for a public company.

Also available, in the Business, Science & Industry Department (in book form) are the "Directory of Obsolete Securities" and the "Robert D. Fisher Manual of Valuable and Worthless Securities."

If stock for the company in question is still being traded, you can often locate historic stock quotes online.  Try Yahoo! Finance or BigCharts.

Finally, if you discover your stock has no value, it is possible the actual certificate may be a collectible. Scripophily is the hobby of collecting canceled stock and bond certificates.  Learn more about it here.