American Sources for Documenting Immigrants - Revision history

Wesexon at 21:14, 13 April 2013

Wesexon — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 21:14:44 GMT

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	===Historical Societies===		===Historical Societies===

-	Small and large, historical societies across the nation have collected and preserved pieces of local history that may not be found elsewhere. Historical organizations are traditional storehouses for manuscripts, letters, journals, news clippings, biographical and obituary files, old photographs and yearbooks, local business and institutional histories, memorial and cemetery records, and artifacts. Old settler and pioneer information found in historical societies will often point to Old World origins.	+	Small and large, historical societies across the nation have collected and preserved pieces of local history that may not be found elsewhere. Historical organizations are traditional storehouses for manuscripts, letters, journals, news clippings, biographical and [http://search.ancestry.com/oldsearch/obit obituary] files, old photographs and yearbooks, local business and institutional histories, memorial and cemetery records, and artifacts. Old settler and pioneer information found in historical societies will often point to Old World origins.

	In Pennsylvania, for example, several county historical societies have “family reports” with information previously collected and filed by family name. Some societies will send photocopies of the materials they have on hand for a fee. When requesting information, write or call ahead to be sure of the particular society’s research policy. Some of these files are also available on microfilm at the Family History Library and its family history centers throughout the United States.		In Pennsylvania, for example, several county historical societies have “family reports” with information previously collected and filed by family name. Some societies will send photocopies of the materials they have on hand for a fee. When requesting information, write or call ahead to be sure of the particular society’s research policy. Some of these files are also available on microfilm at the Family History Library and its family history centers throughout the United States.

Paperangels: /* Naturalization Lists */ Fixed broken link with updated URL

Paperangels — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 16:31:27 GMT

Naturalization Lists: Fixed broken link with updated URL

Cijus: /* Enemy Alien Registration */

Cijus — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:53:15 GMT

Enemy Alien Registration

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	This practice dates to at least the country’s first war with a foreign power, the War of 1812. Over 10,000 names listed by state, with dates of arrival, are published in Kenneth Scott’s ''British Aliens in the United States During the War of 1812''.<ref>Kenneth Scott, ''British Aliens in the United States During the War of 1812'' (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979).</ref> While early lists may not always provide exact towns of origin, they will help establish when an immigrant arrived in the country.		This practice dates to at least the country’s first war with a foreign power, the War of 1812. Over 10,000 names listed by state, with dates of arrival, are published in Kenneth Scott’s ''British Aliens in the United States During the War of 1812''.<ref>Kenneth Scott, ''British Aliens in the United States During the War of 1812'' (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1979).</ref> While early lists may not always provide exact towns of origin, they will help establish when an immigrant arrived in the country.
		+
		+	[[file:ImmigrationAlienRegistration-lores.jpg\|thumb\|right\|300px\|An enemy alien registration card from the National Archives—Central Plains Region.]]

	The first large-scale effort to register enemy aliens within the U.S. was conducted by the Department of Justice during World War I. Germans, Italians, and citizens of other Axis powers registered at their local post office. The multi-page form was completed in triplicate. One copy went to the Justice Department in Washington, D.C. Another copy went to the state capitol of the state where the enemy alien registered. The third copy went to the local county or municipal law enforcement officer, usually a county sheriff or city chief of police. In the 1920s, Congress granted authority to destroy the World War I enemy alien records, and a very small number survive today. The enemy alien registration documents for the State of Kansas can be found at the National Archives Central Plains Region in Kansas City, Missouri.		The first large-scale effort to register enemy aliens within the U.S. was conducted by the Department of Justice during World War I. Germans, Italians, and citizens of other Axis powers registered at their local post office. The multi-page form was completed in triplicate. One copy went to the Justice Department in Washington, D.C. Another copy went to the state capitol of the state where the enemy alien registered. The third copy went to the local county or municipal law enforcement officer, usually a county sheriff or city chief of police. In the 1920s, Congress granted authority to destroy the World War I enemy alien records, and a very small number survive today. The enemy alien registration documents for the State of Kansas can be found at the National Archives Central Plains Region in Kansas City, Missouri.

Cijus: /* Alien Registration */

Cijus — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:52:33 GMT

Alien Registration

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	'''Registry Files, 1929 to 1944'''. The Registry Act of 2 March 1929 allowed for the registration, or legalization, of immigrants who arrived prior to 1924 but for whom no immigration record could be found. Most immigrants who applied for Registry did so because they wanted to naturalize, and were unable to do so as long as the government could not verify their arrival from an official immigration record. Researchers often find evidence of Registry activity on index cards for Canadian or Mexican Border arrivals, which in Registry cases usually have the word “Registry” stamped or appearing on the card. Researchers searching seaport arrival records may find a card bearing the notation “C.R.” followed by a number. The number refers to a Certificate of Registry or Certificate or Lawful Entry, suggesting the existence of a Registry file. Note that the CR-number is not the file number, and should not be included in any request. Registry Files remain with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (now in the Department of Homeland Security) and are available only via a Freedom of Information Act request.		'''Registry Files, 1929 to 1944'''. The Registry Act of 2 March 1929 allowed for the registration, or legalization, of immigrants who arrived prior to 1924 but for whom no immigration record could be found. Most immigrants who applied for Registry did so because they wanted to naturalize, and were unable to do so as long as the government could not verify their arrival from an official immigration record. Researchers often find evidence of Registry activity on index cards for Canadian or Mexican Border arrivals, which in Registry cases usually have the word “Registry” stamped or appearing on the card. Researchers searching seaport arrival records may find a card bearing the notation “C.R.” followed by a number. The number refers to a Certificate of Registry or Certificate or Lawful Entry, suggesting the existence of a Registry file. Note that the CR-number is not the file number, and should not be included in any request. Registry Files remain with the Immigration and Naturalization Service (now in the Department of Homeland Security) and are available only via a Freedom of Information Act request.
-
-	~~[[file:ImmigrationAlienRegistration-lores.jpg\|thumb\|right\|300px\|An alien registration card from the National Archives—Central Plains Region.]]~~

	'''Alien Registration, 1940–1944'''. Under the Alien Registration Act of 1940, also known as the Smith Act, all aliens in the United States aged fourteen and older were required to register with the Immigration and Naturalization Service and be fingerprinted. With registration each alien was issued a unique Alien Registration number and an Alien Registration Receipt card to be carried on his or her person. Immigrants who later naturalized gave their card back to the government, but if an immigrant remained an alien after 1941 the card could be preserved among home sources. From 1950 to 1979, registered aliens were required to report their address to INS every January in the Annual Alien Address Report Program. INS kept only the last address on file, and that survives only if the INS maintained an A-file on the immigrant.		'''Alien Registration, 1940–1944'''. Under the Alien Registration Act of 1940, also known as the Smith Act, all aliens in the United States aged fourteen and older were required to register with the Immigration and Naturalization Service and be fingerprinted. With registration each alien was issued a unique Alien Registration number and an Alien Registration Receipt card to be carried on his or her person. Immigrants who later naturalized gave their card back to the government, but if an immigrant remained an alien after 1941 the card could be preserved among home sources. From 1950 to 1979, registered aliens were required to report their address to INS every January in the Annual Alien Address Report Program. INS kept only the last address on file, and that survives only if the INS maintained an A-file on the immigrant.

Cijus: /* Recent Government Changes */

Cijus — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 19:47:41 GMT

Recent Government Changes

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	==Recent Government Changes==		==Recent Government Changes==

-	The Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization later became the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and operated under that name, controlling and managing the process and records of naturalization, until ~~2002~~. With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, and mounting concerns regarding the efficiency of the INS in identifying aliens, Congress mandated radical changes. The INS was dismantled and many of their functions became the responsibility of the new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) division of the Department of Homeland Security. These changes have little effect on researchers seeking historical documentation of a relative’s naturalization. Such records as were created by the INS are now under the jurisdiction of the [http://uscis.gov/graphics USCIS].	+	The Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization later became the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and operated under that name, controlling and managing the process and records of naturalization, until March 1, 2003. With the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, and mounting concerns regarding the efficiency of the INS in identifying aliens, Congress mandated radical changes. The INS was dismantled and many of their functions became the responsibility of the new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) division of the Department of Homeland Security. These changes have little effect on researchers seeking historical documentation of a relative’s naturalization. Such records as were created by the INS are now under the jurisdiction of the [http://uscis.gov/graphics USCIS].

	==Genealogical Information in Naturalization Documents==		==Genealogical Information in Naturalization Documents==

Matrayback at 23:27, 30 July 2010

Matrayback — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 23:27:57 GMT

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Jutley at 20:38, 11 May 2010

Jutley — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:38:16 GMT

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	Beginning in the 1920s, the INS also created C-Files in citizenship (as opposed to naturalization) cases. Files containing applications, correspondence, and a duplicate certificate, relate to persons who acquired U.S. citizenship in a manner other than naturalization by a court. These include children who derived citizenship through the naturalization of a parent, or by birth abroad to a U.S. citizen parent, and who applied for a certificate of citizenship after 1929 (and when 21 years old). There are also C-Files for women who derived citizenship by marriage before 1922 and applied for a certificate of citizenship after 1940. A separate series of C-Files documents women who lost citizenship by marriage before 1922 and resumed U.S. citizenship by taking an oath of allegiance after 1936. Note that women who resumed their citizenship by taking the oath could do so before a court in the United States or before a U.S. Consul abroad. If before a court, a record should be found among court naturalization records. If before a U.S. Consul, the only record is the INS C-File.		Beginning in the 1920s, the INS also created C-Files in citizenship (as opposed to naturalization) cases. Files containing applications, correspondence, and a duplicate certificate, relate to persons who acquired U.S. citizenship in a manner other than naturalization by a court. These include children who derived citizenship through the naturalization of a parent, or by birth abroad to a U.S. citizen parent, and who applied for a certificate of citizenship after 1929 (and when 21 years old). There are also C-Files for women who derived citizenship by marriage before 1922 and applied for a certificate of citizenship after 1940. A separate series of C-Files documents women who lost citizenship by marriage before 1922 and resumed U.S. citizenship by taking an oath of allegiance after 1936. Note that women who resumed their citizenship by taking the oath could do so before a court in the United States or before a U.S. Consul abroad. If before a court, a record should be found among court naturalization records. If before a U.S. Consul, the only record is the INS C-File.

-	The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service, maintains a duplicate file of naturalizations that took place after 27 September 1906. All requests for copies of naturalization or citizenship records issued between September 27, 1906 and March 31, 1956 may be requested from the ~~USCIS Genealogy Program~~ [www.uscis.gov/genealogy].	+	The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service, maintains a duplicate file of naturalizations that took place after 27 September 1906. All requests for copies of naturalization or citizenship records issued between September 27, 1906 and March 31, 1956 may be requested from the [http://www.uscis.gov/genealogy USCIS Genealogy Program].

	=Other Federal Records=		=Other Federal Records=

66.43.20.87: /* Federal Copies of Post-1906 Naturalization and Citizenship Records */

66.43.20.87 — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:33:16 GMT

Federal Copies of Post-1906 Naturalization and Citizenship Records

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:33, 6 May 2010
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	Beginning in the 1920s, the INS also created C-Files in citizenship (as opposed to naturalization) cases. Files containing applications, correspondence, and a duplicate certificate, relate to persons who acquired U.S. citizenship in a manner other than naturalization by a court. These include children who derived citizenship through the naturalization of a parent, or by birth abroad to a U.S. citizen parent, and who applied for a certificate of citizenship after 1929 (and when 21 years old). There are also C-Files for women who derived citizenship by marriage before 1922 and applied for a certificate of citizenship after 1940. A separate series of C-Files documents women who lost citizenship by marriage before 1922 and resumed U.S. citizenship by taking an oath of allegiance after 1936. Note that women who resumed their citizenship by taking the oath could do so before a court in the United States or before a U.S. Consul abroad. If before a court, a record should be found among court naturalization records. If before a U.S. Consul, the only record is the INS C-File.		Beginning in the 1920s, the INS also created C-Files in citizenship (as opposed to naturalization) cases. Files containing applications, correspondence, and a duplicate certificate, relate to persons who acquired U.S. citizenship in a manner other than naturalization by a court. These include children who derived citizenship through the naturalization of a parent, or by birth abroad to a U.S. citizen parent, and who applied for a certificate of citizenship after 1929 (and when 21 years old). There are also C-Files for women who derived citizenship by marriage before 1922 and applied for a certificate of citizenship after 1940. A separate series of C-Files documents women who lost citizenship by marriage before 1922 and resumed U.S. citizenship by taking an oath of allegiance after 1936. Note that women who resumed their citizenship by taking the oath could do so before a court in the United States or before a U.S. Consul abroad. If before a court, a record should be found among court naturalization records. If before a U.S. Consul, the only record is the INS C-File.

-	The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service, maintains a duplicate file of naturalizations that took place after 27 September 1906. All requests for copies of ~~post-1906~~ naturalization or citizenship records ~~should be mailed to: Director~~, ~~Freedom of Information/Privacy Act (FOIA)~~, ~~111 Massachusetts Avenue, N~~.W.~~, 2nd Floor, ULLICO Building, Washington, D.C., 20529~~.	+	The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service, maintains a duplicate file of naturalizations that took place after 27 September 1906. All requests for copies of naturalization or citizenship records issued between September 27, 1906 and March 31, 1956 may be requested from the USCIS Genealogy Program [www.uscis.gov/genealogy].

	=Other Federal Records=		=Other Federal Records=

Matrayback at 21:40, 27 April 2010

Matrayback — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:40:27 GMT

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	[[Category:The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy]]		[[Category:The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy]]
	{{Template:Immigration series (The Source)}}		{{Template:Immigration series (The Source)}}
-	'''This article originally appeared in "Immigration Records" by [[Loretto Dennis Szucs]], FUGA, [[Kory L. Meyerink]], MLS, AG. FUGA, and [[Marian Smith]] in ''[[The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy]]'''''	+	'''This article originally appeared in "Immigration Records" by [[Loretto Dennis Szucs]], FUGA, [[Kory L. Meyerink]], MLS, AG. FUGA, and [[Marian L. Smith]] in ''[[The Source: A Guidebook to American Genealogy]]'''''

	=Family Histories=		=Family Histories=

Matrayback at 20:31, 8 April 2010

Matrayback — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:31:23 GMT

Show changes

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	—Names Of Foreigners Who Took The Oath Of Allegiance To The Province And State Of Pennsylvania, 1727–1775, With The Foreign Arrivals, 1786–1808.		—Names Of Foreigners Who Took The Oath Of Allegiance To The Province And State Of Pennsylvania, 1727–1775, With The Foreign Arrivals, 1786–1808.

-	—New York Count Index to Declaration of Intent for Naturalization, 1907–1924.	+	—New York Count Index to Declaration of Intent for Naturalization, 1907–1924.

-	—''New York Petitions for Naturalization'' from National Archives and Records Administration, Northeast Region. ''Soundex Index to Petitions for Naturalization filed in Federal, State, and Local Courts located in New York City, 1792–1906''.	+	—''New York Petitions for Naturalization'' from National Archives and Records Administration, Northeast Region. ''Soundex Index to Petitions for Naturalization filed in Federal, State, and Local Courts located in New York City, 1792–1906''.

-	—Pennsylvania Naturalizations, 1740–1773.	+	—Pennsylvania Naturalizations, 1740–1773.

	—Philadelphia, 1789–1880 Naturalization Records.		—Philadelphia, 1789–1880 Naturalization Records.

-	—Utah Declarations of Intentions, ~~1878–1895~~	+	—Utah Declarations of Intentions, 1878–1895

	''Hamburg Emigration Records''—An index of emigration records for Hamburg, a point of departure for millions of our European ancestors, can be searched [http://www.ltyr.hamburg.de online]. These records, which are also available on microfilm through the Family History Library (see page 418), cover the period 1850 to 1934. When the Hamburg State Archive made the decision to index the records, they opted to start with 1890 and work forward in time. As of this writing, the 1890 to 1910 time frame has been completed. If your ancestors came a little later or earlier, check the site periodically to see if the years that interest you have been incorporated.		''Hamburg Emigration Records''—An index of emigration records for Hamburg, a point of departure for millions of our European ancestors, can be searched [http://www.ltyr.hamburg.de online]. These records, which are also available on microfilm through the Family History Library (see page 418), cover the period 1850 to 1934. When the Hamburg State Archive made the decision to index the records, they opted to start with 1890 and work forward in time. As of this writing, the 1890 to 1910 time frame has been completed. If your ancestors came a little later or earlier, check the site periodically to see if the years that interest you have been incorporated.
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	While searching the database is free, you will be charged to access all the details pertaining to a specific record—and that data will appear in text format, not as a digitized image. Fortunately, you will usually be provided enough information (such as year of departure, country of origin, year of birth, and so forth.) to determine whether it’s the person you’re seeking, and batch pricing is available (check the site for current prices) if you have multiple searches to do.		While searching the database is free, you will be charged to access all the details pertaining to a specific record—and that data will appear in text format, not as a digitized image. Fortunately, you will usually be provided enough information (such as year of departure, country of origin, year of birth, and so forth.) to determine whether it’s the person you’re seeking, and batch pricing is available (check the site for current prices) if you have multiple searches to do.

-	''Canadian Immigration Records''—When the United States tightened its immigration policies after WWI, many Ellis Island-era immigrants were unable to bring their family members to America. Consequently, many of their relatives immigrated to Canada. So pronounced was this pattern, in fact, that current day Americans of Southern and Eastern European origin almost certainly have some Canadian cousins, whether they know of them or not.	+	''Canadian Immigration Records''—When the United States tightened its immigration policies after WWI, many Ellis Island-era immigrants were unable to bring their family members to America. Consequently, many of their relatives immigrated to Canada. So pronounced was this pattern, in fact, that current day Americans of Southern and Eastern European origin almost certainly have some Canadian cousins, whether they know of them or not.

-	For this reason, the National Archives of Canada’s database of [http://www.collectionscanada.ca/02/020118_e.html 1925 to 1935 arrivals] is a valuable resource, not only for Canadians seeking their immigrant ancestors, but for many of us from other countries. This database conveniently picks up just about where the Ellis Island database trails off, so if you can’t find the place of origin for your grandfather who came to Ohio, perhaps his brother’s Canadian record will have the information you seek.	+	For this reason, the National Archives of Canada’s database of [http://www.collectionscanada.ca/02/020118_e.html 1925 to 1935 arrivals] is a valuable resource, not only for Canadians seeking their immigrant ancestors, but for many of us from other countries. This database conveniently picks up just about where the Ellis Island database trails off, so if you can’t find the place of origin for your grandfather who came to Ohio, perhaps his brother’s Canadian record will have the information you seek.

	While digitized images of the records are not available online, basic details are and you can place an order by mail or fax to obtain a copy for a nominal fee. Processing usually takes six to eight weeks, so you might want to consider hiring a local researcher if you’re in a hurry.		While digitized images of the records are not available online, basic details are and you can place an order by mail or fax to obtain a copy for a nominal fee. Processing usually takes six to eight weeks, so you might want to consider hiring a local researcher if you’re in a hurry.

	''Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild''—This tremendous, all-volunteer effort to upload searchable transcriptions of passenger lists to the Internet now includes more than 5,000 ships listed by ship’s name, port of departure, port of arrival, captain’s name and surnames. To date, more than half a million immigrants are included.		''Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild''—This tremendous, all-volunteer effort to upload searchable transcriptions of passenger lists to the Internet now includes more than 5,000 ships listed by ship’s name, port of departure, port of arrival, captain’s name and surnames. To date, more than half a million immigrants are included.
-	''
-	Sources for Keeping up With Online Passenger Lists''—Joe Beine provides an excellent [http://home.att.net/~wee-monster/onlinelists.htmlselection of links] to online transcriptions of passenger records and indexes. Entries toward the top of the page are organized by port of arrival. Scroll toward the end of the page to find links listed by foreign origin, such as Portuguese, Norwegian, Dutch, Italian, Irish, Icelandic, German, Finnish, English, and Danish.

-	[http://www.cyndislist.com Cyndi’s List] has links and references to information on most nationalities, including Armenian, French, Jamaican, Estonian, Australian, Chinese, and Welsh. There are also sections titled “Ships and Passenger Lists” and “Immigration and Naturalization.”	+	''Sources for Keeping up With Online Passenger Lists''—Joe Beine provides an excellent [http://www.germanroots.com/onlinelists.html selection of links to online transcriptions of passenger records and indexes.] Entries toward the top of the page are organized by port of arrival. Scroll toward the end of the page to find links listed by foreign origin, such as Portuguese, Norwegian, Dutch, Italian, Irish, Icelandic, German, Finnish, English, and Danish.
		+
		+	[http://www.cyndislist.com Cyndi’s List] has links and references to information on most nationalities, including Armenian, French, Jamaican, Estonian, Australian, Chinese, and Welsh. There are also sections titled “Ships and Passenger Lists” and “Immigration and Naturalization.”

	==When Passenger Lists Are Not Indexed==		==When Passenger Lists Are Not Indexed==