Immigration and Naturalization Records
Immigration records, or ship passenger records, can provide the family historian with a great deal of information. They may contain ship name, date of entry into the United States, place of birth, physical description, profession, place of last residence, name and address of relative in the United States and amount of money they carried. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has immigration records for various ports for the years 1800-1959. You must access these at onsite.
There are many Immigration records available on subscription websites such as www.ancestry.com.
Serials and/or Periodicals:
The Journal of American Ethnic History addresses various aspects of American immigration and ethnic history, including background of emigration, ethnic and racial groups, Native Americans, immigration policies, and the processes of acculturation. Each issue contains
articles, review essays and single book reviews.
Websites:
Castle Garden was the first official immigration center in the United States. It operated from 1820 until 1892. The records may be found at the following website : http://www.castlegarden.org
From 1892 until 1954, over 12 million immigrants entered the United States through Ellis Island. The records may be found at the following website:
http://www.ellisisland.org/
Databases:
National Archives, Access to Archival Databases, includes an online access to records in historical databases: http://aad.archives.gov/aad/
The Archival Research Catalog (ARC) is the online catalog of NARA's nationwide holdings in the Washington, DC, area; Regional Archives; and Presidential Libraries. Researchers can find naturalization records in ARC. See the following :
http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/topics/immigration/
Youtube Video:
Genealogy Introduction—Immigration Records at the National Archives
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCZTSrSvxyc
Subject Headings: Immigration; Immigration and Naturalization;
Immigration stations--Ellis Island (N.J. and N.Y.)
Naturalization records contain files that include two main types of documents:
1. Declarations of Intention to become naturalized as a U.S. citizen, which applicants filed in federal court.
2. Petitions for Naturalization to the United States requesting citizenship, which applicants filed in court.
Serials and/or Periodicals:
American Heritage focuses on American history, presenting essays on topics relating to events in US history.
See the following:
http://www.americanheritage.com/
Websites:
Over a million naturalization records can be found on Fold3. It is a subscription based website but there is a free trial period.
See the following: http://go.fold3.com/naturalizations/
Databases:
In this link for the Archival Research Catalog (ARC) there are highlighted areas of world maps which, when clicked will reveal individual naturalization records.
See the following: http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/topics/immigration/naturalization.html
The FamilySearch website, operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, contains a catalog through which naturalization records may be ordered for a small shipping fee and delivered to a FamilySearch Center library where they may be viewed.
See the following:
https://www.familysearch.org/catalog-search
Youtube Video:
This is the summary of They Became Americans: Finding Naturalization Records and
Ethnic Origins by Loretto Dennis Szucs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMXPnO_pAS8
Subject Headings:
Naturalization records; Naturalization--United States
National Archives, Access to Archival Databases, includes an online access to records in historical databases: http://aad.archives.gov/aad/
The Archival Research Catalog (ARC) is the online catalog of NARA's nationwide holdings in the Washington, DC, area; Regional Archives; and Presidential Libraries. Researchers can find naturalization records in ARC. See the following :
http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/topics/immigration/
Youtube Video:
Genealogy Introduction—Immigration Records at the National Archives
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCZTSrSvxyc
Subject Headings: Immigration; Immigration and Naturalization;
Immigration stations--Ellis Island (N.J. and N.Y.)
Naturalization records contain files that include two main types of documents:
1. Declarations of Intention to become naturalized as a U.S. citizen, which applicants filed in federal court.
2. Petitions for Naturalization to the United States requesting citizenship, which applicants filed in court.
Serials and/or Periodicals:
American Heritage focuses on American history, presenting essays on topics relating to events in US history.
See the following:
http://www.americanheritage.com/
Websites:
Over a million naturalization records can be found on Fold3. It is a subscription based website but there is a free trial period.
See the following: http://go.fold3.com/naturalizations/
Databases:
In this link for the Archival Research Catalog (ARC) there are highlighted areas of world maps which, when clicked will reveal individual naturalization records.
See the following: http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/topics/immigration/naturalization.html
The FamilySearch website, operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, contains a catalog through which naturalization records may be ordered for a small shipping fee and delivered to a FamilySearch Center library where they may be viewed.
See the following:
https://www.familysearch.org/catalog-search
Youtube Video:
This is the summary of They Became Americans: Finding Naturalization Records and
Ethnic Origins by Loretto Dennis Szucs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMXPnO_pAS8
Subject Headings:
Naturalization records; Naturalization--United States
- declarations of intention to become naturalized as a U.S.
citizen, which applicants filed in federal court - petitions for naturalization to the United States
requesting citizenship, which applicants filed in federal court