Massachusetts, Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

Massachusetts

Suffolk

Boston

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Massachusetts, Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston, 1921-1949 CID2526178 {{{CID2}}} {{{CID3}}} {{{CID4}}} {{{CID5}}} {{{CID6}}} {{{CID7}}} {{{CID8}}} {{{CID9}}}
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Boston,Suffolk,Massachusetts, United States
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Record Description
Record Type	Passenger lists Index
Record Group	RG 85: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Collection years	1921-1949
Microfilm Publication	A3453. Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston, Massachusetts, 1921-1949. 4 rolls.
National Archives Identifier	4477836
FamilySearch Resources
Massachusetts Guided Research
Massachusetts Record Finder
Massachusetts Research Tips and Strategies
Step-by-Step Research
United States Emigration and Immigration
Massachusetts Emigration and Immigration
Searching Passenger Lists
US Immigration Finding the Place of Origin
Beginning Research in United States Immigration and Emigration Records
Tracing Immigrants Search Strategies
Tracing Immigrant Origins
Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Genealogy
Related Websites
NARA Passenger Arrival Records
Immigration and Naturalization Laws
NARA Immigration Records
NARA Naturalization Records
Massachusetts Society of Genealogists, Inc
Passenger Manifest Annotations
NARA Browse by Port of Entry
Archive
National Archives and Records Administration

What is in This Collection?

This collection contains an index (about 70,000 cards) to passenger lists of vessels arriving at Boston, Massachusetts, 1921-1949. The cards are most often arranged alphabetically by surname, then reverse chronological order by year of arrival, then by volume number. Each card contains the surname, first name, age, gender, and the line, page, and volume number on which each person is recorded on the related passenger list. Images are originally housed at the National Archives and Records Administration (A3453).

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

Index and Image Visibility

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What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

• Full Name
• Age
• Birth year
• Birthplace
• Port of arrival
• Arrival date

Collection Content

Sample Images

• 

  1921 Passenger index card

Inventory

Film	Item	DGS	Roll	Collection	Notes
		101197920	1	(Old INS roll 23), pt. A, 1921-1924
		101197922	1	(Old INS roll 23), pt. B, 1924-1944
		101197924	1	(Old INS roll 23), pt. C, 1921
		101251986	2	(Old INS roll 24), pt. A, 1944-1949
		101251987	2	(Old INS roll 24), pt. B, 1923-1937
		101251988	2	(Old INS roll 24), pt. C, 1921-1947
		101263996	4	(Old INS roll 26), 1921
		101289753	3	(Old INS roll 25), pt. A, 1921-1948
		101289754	3	(Old INS roll 25), pt. B, 1921-1945
		101289755	3	(Old INS roll 25), pt. C, 1922-1945

How Do I Search This Collection?

Search the Index

Search by name on the 2526178 Collection Details Page.

1. Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
2. Click Search to show possible matches

How Do I Analyze the Results?

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?

When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. The information may also lead you to other records about your ancestors.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

• Add any new information to your records
• Use the age to calculate a birth date
• Use the name, date, group, and list number to obtain additional immigration information from the National Archives
• Continue to search the index and records to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may also have immigrated
• When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct. You may need to compare the information on more than one card or person to make this determination
• Be aware that, as with any index, transcription errors may occur.

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

• Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names
• Search the indexes and records of other port cities

Research Helps

The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Massachusetts.

• Searching Passenger Lists
• US Immigration Finding the Place of Origin
• Beginning Research in United States Immigration and Emigration Records
• Massachusetts Guided Research
• Massachusetts Research Tips and Strategies
• Step-by-Step Research

Other FamilySearch Collections

These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

• Michael Tepper, American passenger arrival records: a guide to the records of immigrants arriving at American ports by sail and steam Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, c1993 FS Library 973 W27am 1993
• John Philip Colletta, They came in ships: a guide to finding your immigrant ancestor's arrival record. 3rd ed. Orem, Utah: Ancestry Publishing, c2002 FS Library 973 W27c 2002
• Massachusetts, index to passenger lists of vessels arriving at Boston, 1921-1949

FamilySearch Historical Records

• Massachusetts, Boston Passenger List Index, 1899-1940
• Massachusetts, Index to Boston Passenger Lists, 1848-1891
• Massachusetts, Boston Passenger Lists, 1891 -1943

FamilySearch Digital Library

• Morton Allan directory of European passenger steamship arrivals: for the years 1890 to 1930 at the port of New York and for the years 1904 to 1926 at the ports of New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore New York, New York : Immigration Information Bureau, c1931

Citing This Collection

Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.

Collection Citation: The citation for this collection can be found on the Collection Details Page in the section Cite This Collection.

Record Citation: When looking at a record, the citation can be viewed by clicking the drop-down arrow next to Document Information.