The following is a summary of a couple of the key points she made in her presentation. For a printable copy of her handout, please click here.
#1 - Create a Timeline: She began by suggesting that the best way to stay organized in your search for an ancestor's records is to create a timeline of their life. This timeline should include the places they lived throughout their lives. A simple timeline will be a reference point in which to ensure that you're searching in the right state and/or county or country when looking for records.
#2 - All immigrants did not arrive through Ellis Island: There were many ports of entry into the United States. A listing of them can be found here at: National Archives Immigration Records (See Part 5 for all the ports of entry). On her handout she lists the different time periods of immigration and where the records might be found.
#3 - Naturalization forms & Passport Records are two forgotten resources: Naturalization records after 1906 contain quite a bit of information and most likely will reveal the name of the city and country an immigrant is from. Many immigrants traveled back to their home country at some point after their arrival. Passport records might also reveal an ancestor's homeland and a photo.
Where to Find Naturalization Records:
Before 27 September 1906 - check Federal, State, County, Local Courts
After 27, September 1906 - check INS but also Federal, District, State Courts
Where to Find Passport Records:
National Archives Record Groups 59 & 84 - from 1791 to 1925
#4 - Find the year your ancestor emigrated from his home country: U.S. Census for years 1900, 1910, 1920 & 1930 include immigration year and citizenship questions.
#5 - Look for a passenger ship record: Some passenger ship lists can be found online, but many have not yet been digitalized. There are many books in genealogy libraries with the names of those included on the passenger lists. Leesburg genealogy library, as well as the Orlando genealogy library (located in the Ocoee Library) contain many of these reference books.
#6 - Learn the history: Read about the history of your ancestor's homeland to see why people were leaving during that time period. Learn more about the history of the town in the U.S. that your family settled in. The names and information about early pioneer families can be found in many historical records and books.
#7 - Talk with living relatives: Be persistent! Many family members are not interested but the more you ask, the more likely they will remember some information. Contact cousins or more distant relatives (DNA matches) to see if they have records or photos. They just might have the one record you need.
#8 - Don't give up! - Finding records is not easy. Many are not online yet, so you may need to order microfilm from FamilySearch.org or records from local & national state archives. Researching is a process that takes time and effort, so keep working at it.
Following is a list of books that Ann highly recommends to assist in your search and understanding of records that are available. Two of these books are located under Google Books (link is available below), while the rest can be found at local genealogy libraries:
* Locating Your Immigrant Ancestor by James C. Neagles
* They Came in Ships by John P. Colletta, Ph.D
* Guide to Naturalization Records of the United States by Christina K. Schaefer
* Passenger & Immigration Index by Filby & Meyers
* They Became Americans by Loretto Dennis Szucs
* Morton-Allen Directory of European Passenger Steamship Arrivals (lists by steamship line, dates of arrival of all vessels from Europe to New York (1890-1930) plus Baltimore, Philadelphia & Boston (1904-1926)
A huge THANK YOU to Ann Mohr Osisek for an informative presentation and to the
Mount Dora Library Association for funding her presentation.
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