In the NARA Coast-to Coast post last week, we discussed the general process for naturalization. This week we will focus on some of the exceptions to the normal process for minors, women, and aliens serving in the U.S. military. Naturalization and Minors (Children) Minor children were granted derivative citizenship when their father, or after 1922 … Continue reading NARA Coast to Coast: Naturalization, part 2
With all the hype ramping up for the approaching 150th anniversary of the Civil War next year, which is expected to continue over the next five years, I've heard a few concerns that another major milestone might be overshadowed--the bicentennial in 2012 of the beginning of the War of 1812! Lest we forget about our … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Who were the Sea Fencibles in the War of 1812?
Did you know that you can find references to important historical events in our records? You’ve probably already seen some of what I’m talking about. Sometimes it’s obvious, as in the case of the Carpathia arriving in New York City on April 18, 1912 with the survivors from the Titanic. Sometimes, however, you can stumble … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Historical Events Reflected in the Records
When I started this series of blog posts on immigration records, I mentioned that the Federal government began documenting alien arrivals in 1820, in fulfillment of the requirements of the Steerage Act of 1819. So, can you still find any information in federal records about alien arrivals PRIOR to 1820? As a matter of fact, … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Landing reports of alien immigrants, 1798-1828
Today, guest blogger Elizabeth Carrington from the National Archives at Kansas City has written a special NARA Coast-to-Coast post announcing the opening of over 300,000 Alien Case Files from the records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. I find when I approach new records what I really want to understand is how a particular item … Continue reading The National Archives at Kansas City Opens over 300,000 Alien Case Files for Research!
We’ve all found ancestors whose names are spelled differently in every census record. Sometimes their ages don’t match up either – for example, if someone is 32 in the 1910 census, they should be 42 in the 1920 census. Frequently, however, you will see that they are listed as 38 or 40 instead. We’ve touched … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Discrepancies in the Records
Special acknowledgment goes to Steve Spence, Archives Specialist at the National Archives at Kansas City, for his assistance in writing this post. Bank robbers! Prohibition gangsters! Con men! Wartime spies! Your great uncle Charlie? This week’s post features records that combine criminal activity and family history, giving genealogists access to the shady underside of their … Continue reading NARA Coast to Coast: Discovering Black Sheep in the Pen!
Even though passenger arrival records were intended to document foreign or alien immigrants coming into the United States, you will occasionally find U.S. citizens listed on the vessel manifests as well. In the 19th century records, they are much harder to locate, their names generally mixed together with the alien arrivals. You have to note … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Info about U.S. citizens in immigration records.
Welcome to “NARA Coast to Coast,” the newest NARAtions feature which will bring you information about federal records from National Archives locations all over the country. I am Corinne Porter, an archivist in the National Archives, Office of Regional Records Services in College Park, MD. For this inaugural post I decided to go in a … Continue reading NARA Coast to Coast: Native American records across America
A while back, I talked about passport applications. These are some of my favorite records, so I thought I’d examine a typical application in detail, to show you what type of information you can find. On January 6, 1923, Sidney van Slaars’ passport application (#241469) was approved. Sidney was born in New York City “on … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Passport Applications Revisited
