IMMIGRATION AND SHIPS PASSENGER LISTS RESEARCH GUIDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Last updated Aug 2011

The goal of this Guide is to help in research of United States immigration records and ship's passenger lists, both on-line and off-line.  Procedure and examples are included to help those who are new to this research, however, numerous tips, help and links to other sites are provided for advanced research.


This Guide is based on material originally presented at the Genealogical Society of Bergen County, N.J by Arnold H Lang. It is being updated and expanded to include links to on-line web sites, databases, and other subjects associated with immigration.


This guide is maintained by members of the Genealogical Society of Bergen County, N.J in honor and memory of our past president Arnold Lang who shared his knowledge with us all.


TABLE OF CONTENTS 
1.0 STEP ONE   Getting started
2.0 RESOURCES   Finding necessary information about your ancestors using census, naturalization, and passport records
Using the National Archives, the LDS Family History Library, and other Libraries
Guide to the Soundex Coding System
3.0 RESEARCH IN YEARS BEFORE 1820  Searching the Internet, Libraries and other Resources  for these scattered records
4.0 RESEARCH IN YEARS 1820 TO Ca1891 Use the Internet and other resources to locate your ancestor's passenger list
A Procedure with a detailed  Illustrated Example  for finding the original passenger list on microfilm
Castle Garden - Port of New York (1855 to 1891) in history

5.0 RESEARCH IN YEARS AFTER Ca1891 Use the Internet and other resources to locate your ancestor's passenger list
Search Ellis Island online Database  (links and hints on using)
Ellis Island (1892 to 1924) and the Wall of Honor in history
6.00 GETTING SHIP PICTURES AND INFORMATION
Extensive list of links to the Internet, Marine Museums and Libraries, and Books
7.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY & REFERENCES
8.0 NATURALIZATION RECORDS Naturalization Records provide information about your Ancestor and may help in locating his Passenger List
9.0 PASSPORT RECORDS If your naturalized ancestor returned to his home country with a passport, these records provide his date and place of birth and other information.


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  Copyright © Arnold H. Lang 2002, GSBC