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Immigrant and Passenger Arrivals
See Also:
Genealogy: Immigration Records
Select Catalog of NARA Microfilm Publications
Introduction to Immigrant and Passenger Arrivals Catalog
Records of the U.S. Customs Service, 1820--ca. 1891
Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service,
1891--1957
- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Detroit, Michigan
- Galveston, Texas
- Gloucester, Massachusetts
- Gulfport and Pascagoula, Mississippi
- Key West, Florida
- New Bedford, Massachusetts
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- New York, New York
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Portland, Maine
- Providence, Rhode Island
- St. Albans, Vermont, District
- San Francisco, California
- Savannah, Georgia
- Seattle, Washington and Other Washington Ports
Foreword
The National Archives and Records Administration is responsible
for administering the permanently valuable noncurrent records of the Federal
Government. The holdings of the National Archives now amount to more than 1.3
million cubic feet. They date from the First Continental Congress and consist of
the basic records of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of
Government. The Presidential libraries of Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt,
Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson,
Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan, as well as the Nixon and Bush
Presidential Projects, contain the papers of those Presidents and many of their
associates in office. These research resources document significant events in
our Nation's history, but most of them are preserved for continuing practical
use in the ordinary processes of Government; for the protection of individual
rights; and for the research use of scholars, students, and other individual
researchers.
The National Archives Microfilm Publication Program
Since 1941, the
National Archives has been microfilming selected groups of Federal records that
have high research value. Under this program, negative microfilm is retained by
the National Archives, and positive prints are made from these master negatives
and sold at moderate prices. The chief purposes of the program are to make
archival sources more easily accessible to libraries, research centers, and
individuals and to ensure against loss of valuable information should the
original records be destroyed. In this way, microfilm publications are a partial
answer to the researcher's need for more extensive publication of archival
materials because they provide a relatively inexpensive method by which he or
she can obtain facsimile reproductions of entire series of documents.
Although the microfilm publication program is one of the oldest continuing
programs of the National Archives, it was not firmly established financially
until 1948, when a grant of $20,000 from the Rockefeller Foundation provided for
accelerated production of microfilm and ensured the continuation of the program
through the establishment of a revolving fund. By 1991, nearly 200,000 rolls of
master negative microfilm had been produced.
National Archives microfilm publications now provide basic documentation for
research in the fields of American, European, Far Eastern, African, and Latin
American history as well as in local history and genealogy. They are also
valuable for work in other fields, such as economics, public administration,
political science, law, and ethnology. As the program has developed, more
emphasis has been placed on microfilming groups of records that are directly
related to one another, as in the case of records relating to the same general
subject or to a specific geographic area. In this way, researchers can obtain
reasonably complete documentation in many fields of interest. For example, a
number of microfilm publications document diplomatic, consular, and naval
relations between the United States and the Far Eastern countries of China,
Japan, and Korea from the late 18th century. Similarly, almost complete coverage
of relations between the United States and other countries throughout the world
is provided. Microfilm publications have also been produced concerning the
administration of affairs in individual territories of the United States.
Types of Microfilm Publications
National Archives microfilm publications are divided into two series,
identified by "M'' numbers and "T'' numbers. In general, records selected for
filming as "M'' publications have high research value for a variety of studies,
and the ratio of research value to volume is high. Usually each publication
reproduces an entire series of records. Most "M'' publications include
explanatory material prepared by archivists to help researchers glean
information from the filmed records more easily. ""M'' publications usually have
an introduction that describes the origin, content, and arrangement of the
filmed records and lists related records. Some introductions also include
special aids, such as indexes and registers. Descriptive pamphlets (DPs) are available for many "M" publications. Each
pamphlet contains the publication's introduction (including special lists or
indexes prepared to simplify the use of the microfilm publication) and a table
of contents that identifies the material contained on each roll. "M''
publications that have descriptive pamphlets are indicated in this catalog by
the symbol DP at the end of a publication title. The pamphlets are made
available on request to prospective purchasers so they can evaluate more
thoroughly the value of the publication's contents for their research.
"T'' publications, unlike "M'' publications, do not usually reproduce a
complete series of records; that is, they may contain only segments, by date or
subject, of a larger series. In many cases, "T" publications were produced in
response to specific reference requests. Also, over the years the National
Archives has accessioned as record material microfilm produced by other Federal
agencies. Some of this film, when it is not defense classified and is deemed of
sufficient research value, is reproduced and made available for sale as "T''
publications. These publications are reproduced and sold exactly as they were
filmed; they contain no introductions, nor are descriptive pamphlets available
for them. All of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) records
described in this catalog are "T" publications that were filmed by and
accessioned from the INS.
Catalogs of Microfilm Publications
This catalog is one in a series
describing National Archives microfilm publications related to subjects of high
research interest. Each catalog is compiled through an extensive review of all
microfilmed records to locate publications relevant to each topic. The catalogs
contain both detailed descriptions of the records and roll-by-roll listings for
each publication.
The other six catalogs in the series cover the following topics:
These catalogs are part of a larger effort undertaken by the National
Archives Trust Fund to increase public awareness of the availability of the
records in the National Archives and to improve access to them. If you have
suggestions for new catalog topics, new types of products based on the holdings,
or new ways in which the Trust Fund can help you with your research, please
contact the National Archives Trust Fund Board (NAJ), National Archives,
Washington, D.C. 20408.
Microfilm Pricing Policy
The price of each roll of microfilm in this
catalog is $34 Prices are subject to change without advance public notice.
Film
can be bought as either individual rolls or a complete publication. The
microfilm price includes the cost of film stock, chemicals, boxes and reels,
postage, and salaries. A fixed price per roll has been established because most
of the costs of reproducing and selling microfilmare the same for all rolls of
film, regardless of length. The establishment of such a price permits a
substantial savings in order processing costs.
The National Archives microfilm publications program is financed from a trust
fund established by the National Archives Trust Fund Board Act (44 U.S.C. 2307).
Revenue received through the sale of microfilm publications is returned to the
Trust Fund for use in financing additional publications and other products
designed both to facilitate access to Federal records held by the National
Archives and to make them more widely available to a larger portion of the
public.
Microfilm Specifications All microfilm sold through the National
Archives Microfilm Publications program is silver-halide positive microfilm.
Unless otherwise specified, it is 35mm reel microfilm, with plastic reels.
Reduction ratios used range from 12:1 to 20:1. The number of frames on each reel
varies.
In some instances, it is possible to obtain either microfilm in a different
form (e.g., duplicate negative rather than positive) or paper copies.
Introduction
This catalog lists National Archives microfilm publications
of records relating to the arrival of passengers, crew members, and vessels in
U.S. ports. Most of the records before 1891 are from the Records of the U.S.
Customs Service, Record Group 36. Later records are part of the Records of the
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), Record Group 85. The publications
are arranged by record group and thereunder alphabetically by the name of the
port.
The second edition features five new ports of entry: Detroit, Michigan;
Galveston, Texas; the St. Albans, Vermont, District, encompassing territory
along the Canadian border from Maine to Washington; San Francisco, California;
and Seattle, Washington. The catalog now includes complete roll listings for
every microfilm publication, providing the researcher with a more thorough
understanding of the records each publication contains. In addition, there are
three new indexes at the back of the catalog: publications are arranged by port,
by title, and by their inclusion in microfilm holdings of each regional
archives.
Records of the United States Customs Service, Record Group 36
Early
records relating to immigration originated in regional customhouses. An act of
March 2, 1819 (3 Stat. 489) required the captain or master of a vessel arriving
at a port in the United States or any of its territories from a foreign country
to submit a list of passengers to the collector of customs. The act also
required that the collector submit a quarterly report or abstract, consisting of
copies of passenger lists, to the Secretary of State, who was required to submit
such information at each session of Congress. After 1874, collectors forwarded
only statistical reports to the Treasury Department. The lists themselves were
retained by the Collector of Customs. Customs records were maintained primarily
for statistical purposes.
Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Record Group
85
In 1882, Congress passed the first Federal law regulating immigration;
between 1882 and 1891 the Secretary of the Treasury had general supervision over
immigration. The Office of Superintendent of Immigration of the Department of
the Treasury was established under an act of March 3, 1891, and was designated a
bureau in 1895 with responsibility for administering the alien contract-labor
laws. In 1900, administration of the Chinese- exclusion laws was added. In 1903,
the Bureau became part of the Department of Commerce and Labor. Functions
relating to naturalization were assigned to the Bureau in 1906, and its name was
changed to the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization. It was transferred in
1940 to the Department of Justice.
The records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service listed in this
catalog were transferred to the National Archives on microfilm. The original
records were destroyed by the INS. In some instances, there are indexes for
which the National Archives has no list. Some of the records were microfilmed as
they appeared in volumes and the date spans may overlap. Errors in arrangement
or omission cannot be corrected. Not all passenger lists are indexed. Many of
the indexes are difficult to read. This catalog describes contents of individual
rolls of microfilm.
The Records
In this catalog, passenger arrival records are preceded by
their indexes. The date spans for the indexes and the records do not always
exactly correspond.
Card Indexes The quantity of information in each of the indexes varies.
They may be simple alphabetical listings or arranged in the Soundex coding
system (for a full explanation of how to use the Soundex system, see p. 43). The
indexes may contain the name, age, occupation, nationality, and last permanent
residence of the passenger; the port of entry; the name of the vessel; and the
date of arrival. The Soundex index cards may contain only the passenger's name,
age, and sex, and the volume number, page, and line where the name may be found.
Book Indexes
These records consist of alphabetical listings of
passengers provided to the Immigration and Naturalization Service by the
shipping lines. The lists are usually arranged chronologically by date of
arrival. The lists include the passenger's name, age and destination.
Passenger and Crew Lists
Customs Passenger Lists and Abstracts
Customs passenger lists contain
each passenger's name, age, sex, occupation, nationality, and the name of the
country in which each intended to reside. Entries are arranged by date of
arrival and sometimes by the passenger or crew member's occupation and the port
from which he or she sailed. Lists may also include notations as to the number
and causes of deaths on board. The abstracts, which are consolidated lists of
all the passengers who arrived at a port during the quarter, generally contain
the same information as customs passenger lists.
Immigration and Naturalization Service Passenger Lists Immigration and
Naturalization Service passenger lists include the names of U.S. citizens
returning from abroad, foreign visitors, and immigrants. The lists usually also
contain names of vessels and shipmasters, ports of arrival and embarkation,
dates of arrival, and the following information about each passenger: full name;
age; sex; marital status; occupation; last residence; port of arrival and final
destination in the United States; if the passenger had been in the United States
before, when, and where; and if the passenger were going to join a relative, the
relative's name and address, and relationship. Beginning in 1903, race was
included; in 1906, personal description and birthplace; in 1907, the name and
address of the alien's nearest relative in country from which he or she came.
Crew Lists Crew lists may include the names of both American and alien
seamen. Information about each crew member may include his length of service at
sea, position in the ship's company, when and where the seaman joined the
vessel's crew, whether he was to be discharged at the port of arrival, literacy,
age, race, nationality, height, and weight.
Obtaining Single Copies of Passenger Lists
For a researcher who doesn't
wish to buy an entire roll of film to look for a single name, the National
Archives will provide, for a fee, copies of single pages of passenger lists. If
the list is indexed, the Reference Services Branch will consult the index to
find the correct page of the passenger list to copy. The minimum information
required for a search of the index is the full name of the person being
researched, the port of arrival, and the approximate date of arrival. Additional
information such as age of passenger and names of accompanying passengers can be
useful. More specific information, however, is needed to search unindexed lists.
In addition to the facts listed above, it is necessary to provide either the
exact date of arrival or the name of the ship on which the person arrived.
Reproductions can be ordered online as well as on the
NATF Form 81, "Order for Copies of
Passenger Arrival Records." The fee for this service is $10, payable only when
the records requested are found. If it is not possible to find records, no
payment is required.
This catalog was compiled by Constance Potter with assistance from Anne
DeLong.
The Guide to the Soundex System
Soundex filing system, alphabetic for
the first letter of surname and numeric thereunder as indicated by divider
cards, keeps together names of the same and similar sounds but of variant
spellings.
To search for a particular name, you must first work out the code number for
the surname of the individual. No number is assigned to the first letter of the
surname. If the name is Kuhne, for example, the index card will be in the "K"
segment of the index. The code number for Kuhne, worked out according to the
system below, is 500.
Soundex Coding Guide
Code Key Letters and Equivalents
1 b,p,f,v
2 c,s,k,g,j,q,x,z
3 d,t
4 l
5 m,n
6 r
The letters a, e, i, o, u, y, w, and h are not coded.
The first letter of the surname is not coded.
Every Soundex number must be a 3-digit number. A name yielding no code
numbers, as Lee, would thus be L-000; one yielding only one code number would
have two zeros added, as Kuhne, coded as K-500; and one yielding two code
numbers would have one zero added, as Ebell, coded as E-140. Not more than three
digits are used, so Ebelson would be coded as E-142, not E- 1425.
When two key letters or equivalents appear together, or one key letter
immediately follows or precedes an equivalent, the two are coded as one letter,
by a single number, as follows: Kelly, coded as K-400; Buerck, coded as B-620,
Lloyd, coded as L-300; and Schaefer, coded as S-160.
If several surnames have the same code, the cards for them are arranged
alphabetically by given name. There are divider cards showing most code numbers,
but not all. For instance, one divider may be numbered 350 and the next one 400.
Between the two divider cards there may be names coded 353, 350, 360, 365, and
355, but instead of being in numerical order they are interfiled alphabetically
by given name.
Such prefixes to surnames as "van," "Von," "Di," "de," "le," "Di,"
"D'," "dela," or "du" are sometimes disregarded in alphabetizing and in
coding.
The following names are examples of Soundex coding and are given only as
illustrations.
Name Letters Coded Code No.
Allricht l,r,c, A-462
Eberhard b,r,r E-166
Engebrethson n,g,b E-521
Heimbach m,b,c H-512
Hanselmann n,s,l H-524
Henzelmann n,z,l H-524
Hildebrand l,d,b H-431
Kavanagh v,n,g K-152
Lind, Van n,d L-530
Lukaschowsky k,s,s L-222
McDonnell c,d,n M-235
McGee c M-200
O'Brien b,r,n O-165
Opnian p,n,n O-155
Oppenheimer p,n,m O-155
Riedemanas d,m,n R-355
Zita t Z-300
Zitzmeinn t,z,m Z-325
Native Americans, Asians, and Religious Nuns
Researchers using the
Soundex system to locate religious nuns or persons with Native American or Asian
names should be aware of the way such names were coded. Variations in coding
differed from the normal coding system.
Phonetically spelled Asian and Native American names were sometimes coded as
if one continuous name, or, if a distinguishable surname was given, the names
were coded in the normal manner. For example, the American Indian name
Shinka-Wa-Sa may have been coded as "Shinka" (S-520) or "Sa" (S-000).
Researchers should investigate the various possibilities of coding such names.
Religious nun names were coded as if "Sister" were the surname, and they
appear in the Soundex indexes under the code "S-236." Within the code S-236,
the names may not be in alphabetical order.
Index to Publication Numbers
Index to Publications by Port
- Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina
- Index to passenger lists, 1890-1924............... T517
- Atlantic, Gulf, and Great Lakes Ports
- Index to passenger lists, 1820-1874............... M334
-
Passenger lists, 1820-1873........................ M575
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Indexes to passenger lists
- 1820-1897 (federal lists).................... M327
-
1833-1866 (city lists)....................... M326
-
1897-1952.................................... T520
- Passenger lists
- 1820-1891.................................... M255
-
1891-1909.................................... T844
-
1954-1957.................................... M1477
- Quarterly abstracts of passenger lists, 1820-1869.. M596
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Crew lists, 1917-1943............................. T938
- Indexes to passenger lists
- 1848-1891....................................
M265
- 1899-1940....................................
T790
- 1902-1906....................................
T521
- 1906-1920....................................
T617
- Passenger lists
- 1820-1891....................................
M277
- 1891-1943....................................
T843
- Brownsville, Texas
- Canada
See St. Albans, Vermont, District
- Detroit, Michigan
- Card manifests of entries, 1906-1954..............
M1478
- Passenger and alien crew lists, 1946-1957.........
M1479
- Galveston, Texas and Other Texas Ports
- Index to passenger lists, 1896-1906...............
M1357
- Index to passenger lists, 1906-1951...............
M1358
- Passenger lists, 1896-1951........................
M1359
- Gloucester, Massachusetts
- Crew lists, 1918-1943.............................
T941
- Gulfport, Mississippi
- Index to passenger arrivals, 1904-1954............
T523
- Houston, Texas
- Key West, Florida
- Passenger lists, 1898-1945........................
T940
- New Bedford, Massachusetts
- Crew lists, 1917-1943.............................
T942
- Index to passenger arrivals, 1902-1954............
T522
- Passenger lists, 1902-1942........................
T944
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Crew lists
- 1903-1945....................................
T905
- 1910-1945....................................
T939
- Indexes to passenger lists
- Before 1900..................................
T527
- 1900-1952....................................
T618
- Passenger lists
- 1820-1902....................................
M259
- 1910-1945....................................
T905
- Quarterly abstracts of passenger lists, 1820-1875..
M272
- New York, New York
- Indexes to passenger lists
- 1820-1846....................................
M261
- 1897-1902....................................
T519
- 1902-1943....................................
T621
- 1906-1942....................................
T612
- 1944-1948....................................
M1417
- Passenger lists
- 1820-1897....................................
M237
- 1897-1957 (includes crew lists)..............
T715
- Registers of vessels, 1789-1919...................
M1066
- Pascagoula, Mississippi
- Index to passenger arrivals, 1903-1935............
T523
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Indexes to passenger lists
- 1800-1906....................................
M360
- 1883-1948....................................
T526
- 1906-1926....................................
T791
- Passenger lists
- 1800-1882....................................
M425
- 1883-1945....................................
T840
- Port Townsend, Washington
- Portland, Maine
- Indexes to passenger lists
- 1893-1954....................................
T524
- 1907-1930....................................
T793
- Passenger lists, 1893-1943........................
T1151
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Indexes to passenger lists
- 1911-1934....................................
T792
- 1911-1954....................................
T518
- Passenger lists, 1911-1943........................
T1188
- St. Albans, Vermont, District
- Indexes to Canadian border entries
- Alphabetical, miscellaneous small ports, 1895-1924
M1462
- Soundex, 1895-1924...........................
M1461
- Soundex, 1924-1952...........................
M1463
- Manifests of passenger arrivals
- From Canadian Atlantic ports, 1895-1954......
M1464
- From Canadian Pacific ports, 1895-1954.......
M1464
- From Canadian Pacific ports, 1929-1949.......
M1465
- San Francisco, California
- Crew lists
- (Alien) 1896-1921............................
M1436
- 1905-1954....................................
M1416
- 1954-1957....................................
M1411
- Index to vessels, 1882-1957.......................
M1437
- Index to passenger lists, 1893-1934...............
M1389
- Passenger lists
- 1893-1953....................................
M1410
- 1954-1957....................................
M1411
- 1902-1907 (from Honolulu)....................
M1440
- 1903-1918....................................
M1412
- 1907-1911 (from insular possessions).........
M1438
- Chinese passengers only
- 1882-1888...............................
M1413
- 1888-1914...............................
M1414
- 1903-1947...............................
M1476
- Savannah, Georgia
- Passenger lists, 1906-1945........................
T943
- Seattle, Washington and Other Washington Ports
- Certificates of head tax paid by alien passengers, 1917-1924..
M1365
- Crew lists
- 1890-1957....................................
M1383
- 1903-1917....................................
M1399
- Passenger lists
- 1882-1916 (Chinese passengers only)..........
M1364
- 1890-1957....................................
M1383
- 1894-1909....................................
M1484
- 1908-1917 (from insular possessions).........
M1485
- 1949-1954....................................
M1398
- Tacoma, Washington
Index to Microfilm Holdings in the Regional Archives
- New England Region
- Record Group 36
- Record Group 85
- M1357 M1358 M1359 M1461 M1462 M1463 M1464 M1465 T790 T843 T938 T944
- Northeast Region
- Record Group 36
- Record Group 85
- M1357 M1358 M1359 M1417 M1462 M1463 M1465 T519 T715
- Mid Atlantic Region
- Record Group 36
- Record Group 85
- M1357 M1358 M1359 T520 T526 T791 T840 T844
- Southeast Region
- Record Group 36
- Record Group 86
- M1357 M1358 M1359 T517 T523 T940 T943
- Great Lakes Region
- Record Group 36
- Record Group 85
- Central Plains Region
- Southwest Region
- Record Group 36
- M261 M326 M327 M334 M360 M425 M575 M1066 T527
- Record Group 85
- M1357 M1358 M1359 T521 T790 T840 T843 T944
- Rocky Mountain Region
- Record Group 36
- M237 M255 M261 M360 M575 M1066
- Record Group 85
- M1357 M1358 M1359 T519 T844
- Pacific Southwest Region
- Record Group 36
- Record Group 85
- M1357 M1358 M1359 M1410 M1437 M1438 M1440
- Pacific Sierra Region
- Record Group 85
- M1357 M1358 M1359 M1364 M1389 M1410 M1411 M1412 M1413 M1414 M1416
M1436 M1438 M1439 M1440 M1462 M1465 M1476
- Pacific Northwest Region
- Record Group 36
-
Record Group 85
- M1357 M1358 M1359 M1364 M1365 M1383 M1398 M1399 M1484 M1485
Instructions for Ordering Microfilm Publications
Positive copies of
microfilm may be purchased at prices shown in this catalog or quoted by
Publications Services. Single rolls may be purchased separately. Prices are
subject to change without advance public notice. The price includes postage or
shipping on orders sent to domestic addresses (within the continental United
States) at the fourth-class library rate. If the customer requests that
microfilm be sent to a foreign address (including Canada or Mexico), or requests
a special service to a domestic address (United Parcel Service or air mail), the
order is subject to a shipping fee in addition to the cost of the microfilm.
The following special shipping fees are computed as a percentage of the cost
of the microfilm order:
Surface Airmail
Domestic (UPS) 2% 5%
Foreign 5% 15%
Parcel post insurance is available to many foreign countries for surface mail
and airmail; however, the maximum amount varies from country to country. This
service is available when requested by the customer and the following fees
apply:
Liability Fee
$0.01 to $20.00 $0.85
20.01 to 50.00 1.10
50.01 to 100.00 1.65
100.01 to 200.00 2.35
200.01 to 300.00 3.85
300.01 to 400.00 5.10
Orders should be submitted on
 NATF Form 36, Microfilm Order Form *
, or on institutional
or commercial purchase order forms. Orders can be handled more quickly when they
include the correct microfilm publication number(s), roll number(s), and
price(s). Titles and dates of publications are not needed. Additional order
forms will be sent on request.
Payment must accompany each order and should be in the form of a check or
money order; cash payments are discouraged. Orders may also be charged to VISA
or MASTERCARD accounts. Payments from outside the United States should be made
by international money order, payable in U.S. dollars, or a check drawn on a
U.S. bank. Make checks or money orders payable to National Archives Trust Fund
(NEPS) and mail to Cashier (NJC), National Archives Trust Fund Board,
Washington, DC 20408.
State and local government agencies, educational institutions, and businesses
may purchase microfilm on an accounts-receivable basis but must submit purchase
orders with their order forms unless other arrangements are made.
The National Archives will replace any film that has been processed
improperly in our laboratory. Purchasers are responsible for checking
immediately upon receiving the microfilm order to see that there are no
laboratory errors, that they have received the correct items, that the order is
complete, and that there has been no damage in shipping. The purchasers must
notify Publications Services of any problems within 60 days. Purchasers may not
return microfilm orders without written permission from Publications Services.
National Archives Trust Fund Board
Washington,
DC
1991
See Also:
Genealogy: Immigration Records
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