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''[[Germany]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]]'' '''Gathering Information'''
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==Finding the Town of Birth==
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|Getting Started=Finding Town of Origin
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| link2=[[Italy_Genealogy|Italy]]
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In order to research your family in Germany, it is essential that you have identified the place where they came from. It is not enough to know only ‘Germany’ or ‘Prussia,’ as these were quite large entities. You must know the city, town, or parish that they came from. In many cases, it will be difficult to identify the place of origin by going directly to German sources. Therefore, you will need to search in American sources first.
==Finding the Town of Origin==
In order to research your family in their "old" country, it is essential that you have identified the place where they came from. You must know the city, town, or parish that they came from.
== Important Tips  ==
You must also know enough about the ancestor to positively identify him in the records. Dates (even if they are approximate), places, and familial connections are key to helping you decide if a person you find, who has the same name as your ancestor, really is your ancestor.  


=== What You Need to Know to Begin Research in Germany  ===
*Do you know the name of his/her parents?
*Do you know his/her birth, marriage, or death date or can you calculate an approximate range of years to search for his/her birth, marriage, or death?
*Do you know the name of the spouse? Did they marry before or after coming to the United States?
*Do you know the names of any of his/her siblings?
*Do you know the names of any children born in before the family emigrated?


It is essential that you know:<br>
== Search Home Sources  ==
1. The given and surname of your ancestor: for example,Henry M Borgmann.<br>
Thoroughly go over all home sources available to you, including family history papers, copies of records, pictures, old letters (i.e. with an old address), family bibles, journals/diaries, copies of vital record certificates and church records, memorabilia etc. Interview extended family and close relatives as well as former neighbors--all of which may prove very helpful in gathering as much knowledge about an ancestor as possible.<br>
2. The exact place name, for example: Stadt Osnabrück, Kreis Osnabrück, Hannover, Prussia ( now Niedersachsen). <br>
*[[Collecting Previous Research by Others Part One: Home and Relative Sources]]
3. The time frame.<br>
*[[Gather Family Information]]
4. The religion of your ancestor: usually Catholic or Evangelical Lutheran. <br>
 
==Emigration Questions to Ask Relatives==
Find the oldest living relatives that you can and ask them:
<br>
 
# What do you know about our first ancestor to come from Italy? (open-ended)
#  Have you ever heard mention of towns in Italy where the family lived?
#  Do you have contact with any relatives in Italy?
#  Do you have contact with other branches of the family in other countries?
#  When _____________ came from Italy, did he travel with other family members?
#  Do you know when _________________ arrived and which port city?
#  Did _______________ever become a citizen?
#  Did_________________fight in World War I or II?
#  When they first came, were there already family members here who they joined?
#  Did_______________ever mention their parents in Italy?
#  Were they Catholic or some other religion?
#  Do you have any old letters or postcards from Italy family?
#  Do you have any pictures of family members in Italy?


====Name====
==Search Genealogies Compiled by Others==
Before you can embark in meaningful research, you need to be clear about the name of your ancestor. Many names have been Americanized or have been recorded according to sound. Following the paper trail of your ancestor may give you clues. Search ship lists, naturalization records, church records, civil records or any record where your ancestor had to sign his name.
*[[Collecting Previous Research by Others Part Two: Online Family Tree Collections]]
====Place Name====
*[[Collecting Previous Research by Others Part Three: Digitized Books]]
Another very important piece of evidence to find the correct origin of an ancestor is the place name. Again, you may run into problems here because many ancestors gave a place name as a point of reference. Also, a given place name may be spelled according the recorder’s understanding. Sometimes it helps to know what language your ancestor spoke and something about topographical features of the homeland. It is not enough information to just know that your ancestor came from Germany or Prussia. Even to know the German state, such as Hessen, sometimes proves futile, because there are states called Hessen, Hessen-Nassau, Hessen-Darmstadt, Kurfürstentum Hessen etc.
*[[Collecting Previous Research by Others Part Four: FamilySearch Wiki Tools]]
====Time Frame====
It is also most helpful to know the time frame when you search for a German ancestor. Germany was never a united state until 1871. Before that it consisted of hundreds of little states which had their autonomy, their own sets of laws, their own ways of administration. A general search by looking at census records is not possible in Germany, nor do there exist any centralized data banks from which to extract information. All successful research is based on knowing general and local historical backgrounds of the area in question, and the availability of records for a given time period.
====Religious Affiliation====
If you know the religious affiliation of your ancestor you may also get faster results in locating your ancestor. Most Germans were Catholics or Protestants, however, in some areas, the records of people of other faiths were kept by the predominant church. For example, Jewish or Mennonite births were occasionally recorded at Catholic parishes, especially in areas where the Church was used as the civil registration office.


==Records to Search in the Country of Arrival==
=== Search Home Sources  ===
Thoroughly go over all home sources available to you, including family history papers, copies of records, pictures, old letters (i.e. with an old address), family bibles, journals/diaries, copies of vital record certificates and church records, memorabilia etc. Interview extended family and close relatives as well as former neighbors--all of which may prove very helpful in gathering as much knowledge about an ancestor as possible.<br>


===19th Century Census Records===
==Indexed Records Created in Italy==
*Search19th Century Census Records, available for the United States, Canada, England, and other countries. Censuses are often taken every ten years.  
===Make Sure You Found the Correct Entry for Your Ancestor===
{|
|-
|[[File:Icon-warning.png|100px]]
|
There may be many types of indexed records that cover parts, even large parts of Italy. Searching those indexes by name only can turn up several entries of the same name. '''Never jump to an immediate conclusion that you have found an entry that matches your ancestor'''. Study the information for other clues that verify the match.
|}
*Make sure the person you found in Italian records '''left Italy'''. Look for them in marriage and death records of the same vicinity. See whether they have children a generation later in the vicinity. These things prove they remained in Italy and would rule them out as your ancestor.
*Match '''any other relationships'''.  If you already know the parents' names, spouse's name, and/or siblings' names, make sure they match the parents' names, spouse's name, and/or siblings' names of the person you are considering in the Italian records. The parents and grandparents will usually be listed in birth records found in [[Italy Church Records|'''church records''']] or [[Italy Civil Registration|'''civil records''']]. Search for siblings' birth records and any marriage before leaving Italy in the same index.
*Study '''all available entries for that name born at the same approximate time''', not just the first possible match you see.
*Consider the '''coverage of the database''' you are using. Does it cover all of Italy? Or could there be many other records not covered that could hold your ancestor's record. For example, if the database is for just one province, there are 110 other provinces which could have your ancestor's record.
*Make sure the details you have learned about the person after they immigrate have '''no discrepancies''' with the person you found in Italian records.
 
==Records to Search Created in the United States==
[[Category:Finding Town of Origin]]
 
===Census Records===
*Search census records, available for the United States, Canada, England, and other countries. Censuses are often taken every ten years.  
*Try to locate your ancestor in every census during which he or she was alive. This information provides a good framework for further research.  
*Try to locate your ancestor in every census during which he or she was alive. This information provides a good framework for further research.  
*The 1850-1880 U.S. federal censuses sometimes list a German state or province as birth place.  
*The 1850-1880 U.S. federal censuses sometimes list an Italian state or province as birth place.  
*The censuses for 1900 to 1930 ask for the year of immigration and whether or not the person was naturalized. This information can help you find naturalization records or a passenger list.  
*The censuses for 1900 to 1930 ask for the year of immigration and whether or not the person was naturalized. This information can help you find naturalization records or a passenger list.  
*Many images of census records are available without charge at [https://familysearch.org/ familysearch.org]. Others can be accessed at [[United States Census Online Genealogy Records|'''various subscription Websites. ''']]
*Censuses  can be accessed online. Links to both free and subscription websites are found at [[United States Census Online Genealogy Records|'''United States Census Online Genealogy Records.''']]
*State census records vary in availability and the type of information they contain, but they are always useful as another source to document an ancestor in a specific locality. See [[Online Genealogy Records by Location#U.S. Online Genealogy Records by State|'''U.S. Online Genealogy Records by State''']] for links to online state censuses.
*State census records vary in availability and the type of information they contain, but they are always useful as another source to document an ancestor in a specific locality. See [[Online Genealogy Records by Location#U.S. Online Genealogy Records by State|'''U.S. Online Genealogy Records by State''']] for links to online state censuses.
===Local Municipal Records===
 
Pre-19th Century immigrants may be listed in local or county tax lists and other municipal records. Many such records have been microfilmed by FamilySearch and can be ordered to a family history center near you.<br>
===Vital Records ===
===Vital Records ===
Vital records, or civil birth, marriage, and death records document important events in an ancestor’s life. Many states have posted statewide indexes on the Internet. The respective state and county pages on the [http://usgenweb.org/ USGenWeb] may provide the needed links. See [[Online Genealogy Records by Location#U.S. Online Genealogy Records by State|'''U.S. Online Genealogy Records by State''']], for online vital record databases.<br>
Vital records, or civil birth, marriage, and death records document important events in an ancestor’s life. Many states have posted statewide indexes on the Internet. Understand that any birth, marriage, or death certificate gives information about other people besides the primary person it is about
===Church Records===
*1. It is important to remember that a birth certificate for a child might tell it's parents' birthplaces.
Church records of baptisms, marriages, and burials may provide additional information. If, for example, the civil marriage record showed that a couple was married by a minister, this marriage was probably also entered in the respective parish register. City directories and county histories may help you find the name of the congregation where the minister served. You can also “google” the minister’s name and city.<br>
*2. Marriage certificates might name birth dates and places of the bride and groom. They might also give the names and birth places of the parents of the bride and groom.
===Passenger Arrival Lists===
*3. Death certificates are very important. Birth and marriage certificates might not have kept by a state during the earlier years of your ancestor's life.  There is a greater chance that your ancestor died after detailed record-keeping began. Death certificates frequently state birth date and place.  They also state the names of parents and their birth places.
Passenger lists, especially in the 20th century,  may list birth place, last residence in mother country, and name and residence of a close relative in the mother country. Study the records of fellow passengers, as frequently relatives and neighbors traveled together. See [[United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records]]
===Naturalization Records===
*Naturalization records may also list an ancestor’s birth place.  
*Prior to 1906 any U.S. court could naturalize foreigners. Many pre-1900 records only list “Germany” as the country of citizenship; however, there are notable exceptions, so these records should be checked routinely.
*The process involved two sets of papers: a '''declaration of intention''' to become a U.S. citizen, and a '''petition''' filed some time later.   
*Beginning in 1906, naturalization records became more detailed, as the responsibility shifted to the Federal government.
*More information about naturalization records, along with helpful links, is found at  [[Beginning Research in United States Naturalization Records]] and [[United States Naturalization Online Genealogy Records]].
===Military Records===
Draft records for World War I and II ask for birth place, which can be listed as just Germany or in greater detail.
**{{RecordSearch|1968530|U.S. WW I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918}} Index and images.
**[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=6482 U.S. WW I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918] Indexes and images. ($)
**{{RecordSearch|1339071|United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942}} image browse, alphabetical by state.
**{{RecordSearch|1861144|United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942}} Images with partial index.
===Social Security===
*The application for the Social Security card may also contain a town of birth. These records are available for deceased individuals who died after 1935 when Social Security began.
**{{RecordSearch|1202535|United States Social Security Death Index}}
**[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3693 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014] ($)
**[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60901 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007], Incomplete, ($).
==Records Originating in Germany That Can Help==
So far this article has covered records that can be found in the country of arrival.  There are also records originating in Germany that should be consulted.
See [[Germany_Emigration_and_Immigration]] for a detailed consideration of these records.
=== Passenger Departure Lists  ===
====Hamburg Passenger Lists====
One source to determine place of origin is in a passenger departure list. [[Hamburg Passenger Lists|Hamburg Passenger Lists]]: Hamburg a major port of departure for Germans and the records from there usually give the place of origin. The Hamburg Passenger Lists include the last foreign residence of people leaving from Hamburg.
*There are two lists:
**The Direct Passenger List (1850 to 1934) lists those who left Hamburg and went directly to their destination.
**The Indirect Passenger List (1850 to 1910) shows those who left Hamburg, went to another port, and then on to their destination.
**After 1910 the indirect list is included with the Direct Passenger List.
====Bremen Passenger Lists====
Unfortunately, the passenger departure lists for the port of Bremen were destroyed. The lists for 1847 to 1871 have been partially reconstructed. An early commercial partner with Bremen was the port at Baltimore, Maryland. Many Germans going to America through Bremen landed in Baltimore. The Baltimore passenger arrival lists are indexed.


A wiki article describing an online collection is found at:
There are wiki articles giving details on how to find vital records of each state.
*[[Germany, Bremen Name Card Index to Passenger Lists (FamilySearch Historical Records)]]
*You can select the state of interest and the record (birth, marriage, or death) from this list:
====Other Ports====
[https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Category:How-To_Articles '''How-To Articles'''].
[[Germany Emigration and Immigration|Records from other ports]] tend to be sparse.  
*Many records may be online. See [[Online Genealogy Records by Location#U.S. Online Genealogy Records by State|'''U.S. Online Genealogy Records by State''']], for online vital record databases.<br>


:::'''TIP:''' German emigrants usually left in groups from the same area of Germany. Be aware of the following information when searching your ancestor's passenger list or port record: After finding your ancestor on a port record or passenger register, write down all the people on the same list.<br>Check local census and other records to determine which people settled in the same area as your ancestor.<br>Check for place of origin information on those who were on the same list.<br>If your ancestor's surname is not unusual, but some of the others on the same list are, look those names up in the German surname books to determine where they originated.
===Cemetery Records===
===Passports===
Websites such as [https://www.findagrave.com/ '''FindAGrave'''] and [https://billiongraves.com/ '''BillionGraves'''] are making it easier to get information from headstones, which frequently give birth dates, and occasionally give birth places. Each state has additional collections of cemetery records. See [[Online Genealogy Records by Location#U.S. Online Genealogy Records by State|'''U.S. Online Genealogy Records by State''']] for links to other online cemetery records. Every state also has a Cemetery topic page you can search, for example, [[California Cemeteries]], [[Washington Cemeteries]]. etc.
Each state or city had its own laws regarding passports. In many cases, the applications for passports and the supporting documentation have been preserved. These records often give information such as the emigrant's name, birth date or age, birthplace, occupation, last residence, verification of identity, and physical description.


====Hamburg====
===Obituaries===
Residents of Hamburg had to apply for a passport to emigrate. A few emigrants from other parts of Germany stopped in Hamburg long enough to become residents. If they were residents, they might be in the passport records.  
Obituaries are an excellent source of biographical information about immigrants. In addition to names and death dates, you can learn about surviving family members, church affiliations, spouses, parents, occupations, burial places, and hometowns in the old country. Even if a place of origin is not given, an obituary may provide additional research clues, such as the date or ship of immigration or traveling companions. Much of this information cannot be found in other sources. For many immigrants, an obituary is the only “biographical sketch” ever written about them. See [[Online Genealogy Records by Location#U.S. Online Genealogy Records by State|'''U.S. Online Genealogy Records by State''']] for links to online obituary collections. If the town of death is known, Google newspapers in that town and contact them to see if they kept archives of their obituaries.
*The [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/193218?availability=Family%20History%20Library ‘’’Hamburg Passport Applications’’’] have been microfilmed for the years 1851 to 1929 and include indexes.
*[https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=7545 '''U.S. Obituary Collection, 1930-2017''']
*[[Online Genealogy Records by Location#U.S. Online Genealogy Records by State|'''U.S. Online Genealogy Records by State''']]


====Stuttgart (Württemberg)====
===Social Security===
The Family History Library has indexed the Stuttgart-area passport records for the years 1845 to 1920. This index usually gives the emigrant's hometown and destination.
*The application for the Social Security card may also contain a town of birth. These records are available for deceased individuals who died after 1935 when Social Security began.
*[https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/2623988?availability=Family%20History%20Library Index to Wuerttemberg passport applications : Stuttgart passport office 1845-1920]
**{{RecordSearch|1202535|United States Social Security Death Index}} at FamilySearch - [[United States Social Security Death Index - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]];
===Permission To Emigrate Records===
**[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3693 U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014] ($)
Germans had to apply for permission to emigrate from most areas. The Family History Library has these application records for several states and cities, including ‘’’Baden, Rheinland, the Pfalz, and Zwickau.’’’
**[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=60901 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007], Incomplete ($).
*The Social Security Applications and Claims Index does not cover every application--it has sort of an eclectic mix of what got included.  If you find your ancestor in the ''Social Security Death Index'' but '''not''' in the ''Social Security Applications and Claims Index'', you can [https://secure.ssa.gov/apps9/eFOIA-FEWeb/internet/main.jsp '''send away for a copy of the application'''.]


====Württemberg====
===Military Records===
For example, the library has microfilmed the emigration application records of Württemberg. They list the emigrant's birthplace, residence, assets, and indebtedness.
Draft records for World War I and II ask for birth place, which can be listed as just Italy or in greater detail.
*[https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/2623988?availability=Family%20History%20Library Index to Wuerttemberg passport applications : Stuttgart passport office 1845-1920]
*'''1917-1918''' {{RecordSearch|1968530|U.S. WW I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; Index and images.  
*Schenk, Trudy, and Ruth Froelke. The Wuerttemberg Emigration Index. Salt Lake City, Utah, USA: Ancestry, 1986-. (FHL book Ref 943.47 W22st.) Available on: http://www.germanroots.com/emigration.html.
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=6482 U.S. WW I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918] Indexes and images. ($)
====Westfalen, Minden====
*[https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1002 U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942] - index & images ($)
*'''1942''' {{RecordSearch|1861144|United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942}} at FamilySearch - [[United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records|How to Use this Collection]]; Images with partial index.
*[https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=2498 U.S., Alien Draft Registrations, Selected States, 1940-1946],($),  index & images.


For Westfalen in the Minden area there is available at the Family History Library a book called "Beiträge zur Westfälischen Familienforschung." Call number 943.56 D2b v. 38-39.
===Passenger Arrival Lists===
*'''1905-1910''' [https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/4742/ Italian Passengers to Louisiana, 1905-10] at Ancestry ($)
*'''1855-1900''' [https://aad.archives.gov/aad/series-description.jsp?s=4433&cat=GP44&bc=sl&col=1002 Italians to America Passenger Data File, 1855 - 1900, NARA]
*'''1880-1891''' [https://www.altreitalie.it/Servizi/Cerca_Le_Tue_Radici/Cerca_Le_Tue_Radici.kl Centro Altreitalie] Three databases, available online, with the landing lists of Italians in Argentina, Brazil and the United States.
*[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10030/italians-immigrating-to-the-united-states?s=1&formId=immigration-norels&formMode=1&useTranslation=1&exactSearch=&action=query&initialFormIds=immigration,pili,immigration-norels&p=1&qimmigration=Event+et.immigration+ep.New%2F3York+epmo.similar Italians Immigrating to the United States], at MyHeritage ($), index
*[http://immigrants.byu.edu/search/by_section/3 BYU Immigrant Ancestors Project: Italian] index


====Bavaria====
Passenger lists, especially in the 20th century,  may list birth place, last residence in mother country, and name and residence of a close relative in the mother country. Study the records of fellow passengers, as frequently relatives and neighbors traveled together.  [[United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records|'''United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records''']]
For Bayern there is a periodical entitled Blätter des Bayrischen Landesvereines für Familienkunde. The call number is 943.3 B2b. The volumes which deal with emigration are V. 1, page 19 and 48, V. 2, page 103, V. 3, pages 9, 39, 73, 87, 102 V. 6-7, V. 9 pages 157, 417.
is a comprehensive list of passenger arrival databases that you can search right now from your computer. There are many, many databases. The following search strategy will make your search more efficient.
====Suggested Search Strategy====
# Check the [[United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records#Partner Sites Indexing Multiple Databases|'''partner website indexes,''']] as these cover many, many databases at once. The FamilySearch Historical Records databases is free to search with a free registered account. The other websites are subscription-based but can be searched for free at a [[FamilySearch Center|''' FamilySearch Center''']] near you.  Try to search each partner site because their search engines can often bring up slightly different results.
# If it is difficult for you to get access to the subscription databases, next try [[United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records#Additional Collections Not Included in Above Partner Site Indexes|'''Additional Nationwide Collections Not Included in Partner Sites'''.]] These websites have a lot of overlap with the subscription websites.
# Search a [[United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records#Immigration Records by Ethnic, Nationality, Political, Religious, or Socioeconomic Groups|'''nationality, religious, or political group collection''']] that applies to your ancestor.
#Search the [[United States Immigration Online Genealogy Records#'''Immigration by State'''|'''state collection for the first state where your ancestor lived.''']]


===German Emigration Card Indexes===
===Naturalization Records===
Dozens of card indexes exist for German emigrants.  
*Naturalization records may also list an ancestor’s birth place.
====Hessen Card Indexes====
*Prior to 1906 any U.S. court could naturalize foreigners. Many pre-1900 records only list “Italy” as the country of citizenship; however, there are notable exceptions, so these records should be checked routinely.
For example, the Family History Library has [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/223975?availability=Family%20History%20Library microfilmed card indexes for emigrants from Hessen.] The indexes are divided into five sections for various time periods or areas of Hessen, each in alphabetical order. Other card indexes at the library include the following:
*The process involved two sets of papers: a '''declaration of intention''' to become a U.S. citizen, and a '''petition''' filed some time later. 
====Other Card Indexes====
*Beginning in 1906, naturalization records became more detailed, as the responsibility shifted to the Federal government.
*From Baden, 1660s-1900s: [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/258733?availability=Family%20History%20Library Auswanderer, 17. bis 20. Jahrhundert]
*More information about naturalization records, along with helpful links, is found at  [[Beginning Research in United States Naturalization Records]] and [[United States Naturalization Online Genealogy Records]].
*From the Pfalz,  1500s-1900s: [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/122517?availability=Family%20History%20Library Einwandererkartei, 16.-17. Jahrhundert]
===Passport Applications===
*To the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Russia, Poland, and Italy, 1750-1943: [https://familysearch.org/search/catalog/398168?availability=Family%20History%20Library Kartei der Ansiedlungsorte, 1750-1943]
*[https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1174 U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925] - index & images ($)
===U.S. Citizenship and and Immigration Services Genealogy Program===
The [https://www.uscis.gov/records/genealogy '''USCIS Genealogy Program'''] is a fee-for-service program that provides researchers with timely access to historical immigration and naturalization records of deceased immigrants. If the immigrant was born less than 100 years ago, you will also need to provide proof of his/her death.
=====Immigration Records Available=====
*[https://www.uscis.gov/history-and-genealogy/genealogy/historical-record-series/a-files-numbered-below-8-million '''A-Files:'''] Immigrant Files, (A-Files) are the individual alien case files, which became the official file for all immigration records created or consolidated since April 1, 1944.
*[https://www.uscis.gov/records/genealogy/historical-record-series/alien-registration-forms-on-microfilm-1940-1944 '''Alien Registration Forms (AR-2s):'''] Alien Registration Forms (Form AR-2) are copies of approximately 5.5 million Alien Registration Forms completed by all aliens age 14 and older, residing in or entering the United States between August 1, 1940 and March 31, 1944.
*[https://www.uscis.gov/history-and-genealogy/genealogy/historical-record-series/registry-files-march-2-1929-march-31-1944''' Registry Files:'''] Registry Files are records, which document the creation of immigrant arrival records for persons who entered the United States prior to July 1, 1924, and for whom no arrival record could later be found.
*[https://www.uscis.gov/history-and-genealogy/genealogy/historical-record-series/visa-files-july-1-1924-march-31-1944'''Visa Files:'''] Visa Files are original arrival records of immigrants admitted for permanent residence under provisions of the Immigration Act of 1924.<ref>"Genealogy", at USCIS, https://www.uscis.gov/records/genealogy, accessed 26 March 2021.</ref>


===Other Sources===
=====Requesting a Record=====
*''Germans to America ''is a multivolume set that lists many Germans who arrived in the United States between 1850 and 1897. It is organized chronologically and then by ship. It often gives the town or state of origin of the immigrant.&nbsp;FHL Call number 973 W2ger v.1-67. Also available on CD- ROM.
*[https://genealogy.uscis.dhs.gov/ '''Web Request Page'''] allows you to request a records, pay fees, and upload supporting documents (proof of death).
*Check the local libraries in the areas where your German immigrant ancestor lived. The reference librarian can direct you to local sources or local record keepers. &nbsp;Ask where local newspapers and periodicals are archived and search them for such events as wedding announcements, obituaries, or other important life events.
*[https://www.uscis.gov/records/genealogy/genealogical-records-help/record-requests-frequently-asked-questions '''Record Requests Frequently Asked Questions''']
*County and town histories where your German immigrant settled often contain biographical information.&nbsp;Local histories sometimes provide a place of origin. City histories give the origin of prominent citizens, and county histories show where German settlers came from.&nbsp;Biographical information of descendants may contain specific places of origin beyond the non-descript "Germany" or "Prussian" words found in other records.  
*The [http://www.loc.gov/rr/european/imde/gernews2.html German-American Newspapers and Periodicals 1732-1955]&nbsp;is a listing of German language newspapers throughout America.<br>
*There are many books written about [http://files.lib.byu.edu/family-history-library/research-outlines/Europe/GermansToAmerica.pdf Germans settling in various states].
*Here is a&nbsp;[http://www.onomastik.com/ Website for given and surnames] which also has a forum where you can inquire about a name for which you would like more information.
*[http://geogen.stoepel.net/ Surname distribution tools] for Germany, are based on recent data presented on a 3-D map. This can be helpful only if you had an extremely unusual surname.


[[Category:Italy Search Strategies]]
== Related FamilySearch Blog Articles ==
*[https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/italian-heritage/ Your Italian Heritage]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/my-italian-last-name/ What Can I Learn about My Italian Last Name?]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/italian-genealogy-emigration/ Italy Emigration: The Who, Why, and Where]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/italian-dual-citizenship/ Italian Dual Citizenship: What You Need to Know]
*[https://www.familysearch.org/blog/en/italian-records-genealogy-research/ Italian Genealogy Research—How to Find Italian Records]
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Italy]]
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