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US Immigration Canadian Border Crossings (view source)
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Manifests for Pacific and Atlantic ports provide two types of lists: the traditional passenger lists on U.S. immigration forms and monthly lists of names of aliens crossing the border on trains. These monthly lists are arranged by month, then alphabetically by name of port, and then by railway. | Manifests for Pacific and Atlantic ports provide two types of lists: the traditional passenger lists on U.S. immigration forms and monthly lists of names of aliens crossing the border on trains. These monthly lists are arranged by month, then alphabetically by name of port, and then by railway. | ||
== '''Suggestions for Searching''' == | == '''Suggestions for Searching''' == | ||
Search the index | ==== Search the index ==== | ||
Use Ancestry.com. | |||
#Look through the microfilmed Soundex index for the code that includes your ancestor's last name. | If that fails: | ||
#Look through the microfilmed Soundex index for the code that includes your ancestor's last name. | |||
#Search through that Soundex code for your ancestor's first name. | #Search through that Soundex code for your ancestor's first name. | ||
#Write down everything the index gives about your ancestor, including the day, month, and year when your ancestor entered the United States, the Serial number, which would have volume, group, and list numbers (usually the numbers in the upper right corner). | #Write down everything the index gives about your ancestor, including the day, month, and year when your ancestor entered the United States, the Serial number, which would have volume, group, and list numbers (usually the numbers in the upper right corner). | ||
Interpretation of the serial number, such as 761-33-10 from the index: | Interpretation of the serial number, such as 761-33-10 from the index: | ||
*761 is the volume number | *761 is the volume number | ||
*33 is the group number or the page number (usually) | *33 is the group number or the page number (usually) | ||
*10 is the list number or line number on the page | *10 is the list number or line number on the page | ||
If you do not find your ancestor in the index, see Tip 1. | <span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1280354536529_426">If you do not find your ancestor in the index, see Tip 1. </span> | ||
==== Find the actual record ==== | |||
The index cards give so much information, it can be tempting not to look at the actual records. It is highly recommended that you take the extra step, as they include everyone coming at that time. Relatives and friends may be traveling with your ancestor and information given about those people may be very important to the research on your ancestor. | |||
Ship passenger lists are arranged: | |||
*1st by date (year, month, day). | |||
*2nd by name of ship (usually ships are NOT in alphabetical order). | |||
*3rd by list of passengers. | |||
<br>Train passenger lists are arranged monthly: | |||
*1st by year and month. | |||
*2nd alphabetically by name of the port of entry into the United States. | |||
*3rd by name of railway. | |||
*4th by list of passengers. | |||
==== Create an image or photocopy ==== | |||
Make a photocopy of the page(s) with the information about your ancestor. By copying the entire page(s), you can study the record in depth and save it for future reference. You can analyze the handwriting and note other details you may have missed when you first looked at the record. You may find other relatives of your ancestor. | |||
==== Document so you could find it again ==== | |||
Be sure to document the source of the information by writing the title, author, book or film number, and page number on the copy, or photocopy the title page at the front of the book or film. Also write the name of the library, archive, etc., where you found the passenger lists. | |||
==== Study the document ==== | |||
Compare the information to what you already knew about your ancestor. | |||
What does it tell you about your ancestor and about the people who were with him or her? <br>Does the record give clues about your ancestor which could guide you to other records? <br>Watch for dates, locations, relationships, etc.<br> | |||
== Tips == | |||
Tip 1: Your ancestor's name may have been misspelled in the border crossing record or the index. Try variations of the way the last name was spelled. For suggestions, see Name Variations. Then look in the index using the spelling variations of your ancestor's name. | |||
Tip 2: Your ancestor's name may have been left out of the index. If you know the date he or she came into the United States, you should check the border crossing records for that day. | |||
The following records may give you the day, month, and year your ancestor came into the United States: | |||
:Written family histories | |||
:Family traditions | |||
:Obituary of the immigrant. | |||
Tip 3: Try one of the following smaller collections of border crossing lists, if applicable to your ancestor: | |||
*Vermont ports of entry from 1895-1924 | |||
:''Alphabetical Index to Canadian Border Entries Through Small Ports in Vermont, 1895-1924'' | |||
*Michigan ports of entry from 1906-1954 | |||
:''Card Manifests (Alphabetical) of Individuals Entering Through the Port of Detroit, Michigan, 1906-1954'' | |||
[[Category:United_States_Emigration_and_Immigration]] [[Category:United_States]] [[Category:Canada]] | [[Category:United_States_Emigration_and_Immigration]] [[Category:United_States]] [[Category:Canada]] | ||