Documenting the Immigrant Experience:
The Power of Archival Resources
"Immigrants Outside Building on Ellis Island," undated
Records of the Public Health Service; National Archives & Records Administration
A FEDERAL ART PROJECT MURAL and THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE:
A Union of Immigrants, Art, and Archival Resources
The process of reconstructing the past is tricky. Time passes, memories fade, and biases creep into our thoughts. Our nation’s paradoxical and complicated history demands an intense exploration that only primary sources can provide. The National Archives and other archival institutions make available original documents that allow us to see the values and attitudes of the past and give us a firmer foundation to understand why people did what they did. Most importantly, the National Archives provides a comprehensive historical narrative, encompassing the stories of Presidents and foot soldiers of the Civil Rights movement, war heroes and pop culture icons, rocket scientists and farmers, engineers and bootleggers, the famous and the average Joe. All are welcomed and represented at the National Archives!
For many Americans, life in the United States and the privilege of U.S. citizenship are our birthright. For others, obtaining American citizenship is the result of a conscious decision made to improve their lot in life or to escape religious, cultural or political persecution. A decision to leave one's country of birth--thereby distancing one's self from family and native culture--represents an act of hope, uncertainty, and courage. Despite incalculable risks and fears, immigrants from all corners of the world have made "Coming to America" their life's goal. In return, since 1883, Lady Liberty in New York harbor has welcomed all with "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free." Truly, these words represent one of our nation's most sacred and challenging pledges!
Visit National Archives facilities, virtually or online, to truly appreciate the American motto of E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One) and to find your place in our shared national experience.
Statue of Liberty, New York, 1886
Records of the U.S. Coast Guard; National Archives & Records Administration (Download here)
FIVE SERIES OF RECORDS THAT CHRONICLE THE IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE
For purposes of this page, we focus on five series of Federal records from the holdings of the National Archives that:
Document how and when an alien resident became a citizen,
Capture where alien residents lived during a census period (every 10 years since 1790),
Show when and by what vessel immigrants arrived in America, and
Record immigrant registrants for the WWI and WWII drafts.
1) Naturalization Records: These records document how an alien becomes a citizen. Prior to September 27, 1906, any "court of record" (municipal, county, state, or Federal) could grant United States citizenship; after this date, U.S. naturalization law imposed a fee structure that encouraged the transfer of naturalization to Federal courts. It took time for the lower courts to let go of the practice.
Accordingly, researchers may need to look at lower courts if the National Archives does not maintain a record of naturalization from the early-mid 20th century.
Henry Kissinger (Germany), Diplomat & National Security Advisor
Petition for Naturalization, 06-19-1943
Records of the U.S. District Court, National Archives & Records Administration (Download here)
"President Richard Nixon Walking with Henry Kissinger on the Grounds of the White House," 08-10-1972
White House Photo Office Collection, Nixon Administration; National Archives & Records Administration (Download here)
2) Census Records: The National Archives has the census schedules available from 1790 to 1950, and most have now been digitized by their digitization partners. Family researchers generally find it most helpful to begin with the most current census and work backwards as a strategy for locating people in earlier generations.
Census records provide a wealth of genealogical information, including: 1) name of family member, 2) age at a certain point in time, 3) state or country of birth, 4) parents' birthplace(s), 5) year of immigration, applicable, 6) street address, 7) marriage status and years of marriage, and 8) occupation(s).
Albert Einstein (Germany), Theoretical Physicist
1940 Census, Princeton Borough, New Jersey (Download here)
Photo from "Albert Einstein, Declaration of Intention," 01-15-1936 Records of the U.S. District Court; National Archives & Records Administration (Download here)
3) Passenger Arrival Records: These records, sometimes called "ships passenger lists," can provide genealogical information including: 1) a person's nationality and place of birth, 2) ship name and date of entry to the United States, 3) age, height, eye and hair color, 4) profession, 5) place of last residence, 6) name and address of relatives they are joining in the U.S., and 7) the amount of money they are carrying, etc.
For more information, please see Passenger Arrival Lists and the Microfilm List of New York Passenger Arrival Records, 1789-1957.
Pablo Casals (Spain), Cellist, Composer, & Conductor
List of Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States, 12-14-1927 (Download here)
Bain News Service, publisher, "Pablo Casals," ca. 1915
Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress (Download here)
4) WWI Draft Registration Cards: Approximately 24,000,000 men registered for the WWI draft, including a significant number of immigrants. The information included on each registration differs somewhat but the general information shown includes: 1) order and serial numbers (assigned by the Selective Service System), 2) full name, date and place of birth, 3) race, 4) citizenship, 5) occupation, 6) marital status, 7) dependents, 8) personal description, and 9) signature. As these records ended when an individual reported to the army training camp, they are not military service records: they contain no information about an individual's military service.
The entire collection of WWI Draft Registration Cards is housed at NARA's National Military Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri; please see WWI Draft Registration Cards for: 1) a summary of the historical background of the registration process, 2) a description of the records, and 3) instructions on how to place an online order for the records.
Black and white images of individual draft cards scanned from microfilm are available via Ancestry (for those with an Ancestry account).
Frank Capra (Italy), Film Director
WWI Draft Registration Card, 1917 (Download here)
"Frank Capra, director, aboard the Rex. New York," 1937
Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress (Download here)
5) WWII Draft Registration Cards: Nearly 38,000,000 men registered for the WWI draft, including a significant number of immigrants. The information included on each registration includes: 1) name, 2) Selective Service registration number, 3) age, date and place of birth, 4) ethnicity, 5) place of residence at time of registration, and 6) basic physical description. As these records ended when an individual reported to the army training camp, they are not military service records: they contain no information about an individual's military service.
The entire collection of WWII Draft Registration Cards is housed at NARA's National Military Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri; please see WWII Draft Registration Cards for: 1) background information about the draft and 2) instructions on how to request the records.
The complete series of WWII Draft Registration Cards has been scanned and transcribed and is available at Ancestry (for those with an Ancestry account).
Henny Youngman (England), Comedian
WWII Draft Registration Card, October 1940 (Download here)
"Henny Youngman," undated
National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution (Download here)
FAMOUS IMMIGRANTS
You and your ancestors are no less important and can be found in the National Archives!
NATURALIZATION RECORDS for CELEBRITY IMMIGRANTS
from the Records of the U.S. District Courts in the physical custody of the National Archives & Records Administration
Marlene Dietrich (Germany)
Actress & film star
"Marlene Dietrich Signing the Cast of a Soldier," 11-24-1944
Office of the Chief Signal Officer; National Archives & Records Administrator
(Download here)
Maria von Trapp (Austria)
Singer & author
Edward Lynch, Photographer, ["Maria von Trapp and Family"], 1939
Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress
(Download here)
Alfred Hitchcock (England)
Film director
Fred Palumbo, photographer, ["Alfred Hitchcock, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing right"], 1956
Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress
(Download here)
Hedy Lamarr (Austria)
Actress & scientist
"Hedy Lamarr," 1936
Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library Digital Collections
(Download here)
CENSUS RECORDS for CELEBRITY IMMIGRANTS
from the U.S. Census Bureau in the physical custody of the National Archives & Records Administration
Desi Arnaz (Cuba)
Comic, film star, musician, & producer
Charlotte Brooks, photographer, ["Image from LOOK - Job 56- titled Lucy comes home"], 02-09-1956
Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress
(Download here)
1940 Census, Manhattan Borough, New York
(Download here)
Cary Grant (England)
Actor
"President Ronald Reagan Talking with Cary Grant & Douglas Fairbanks Jr. at a White House Private Dinner Party in The Yellow Oval Room, 12-04-1981"
White House Photographic Collection; National Archives & Records Administration
(Download here)
1950 Census, Los Angeles, California
(Download here)
Alexander Graham Bell (Scotland)
Inventor, scientist, & engineer
"Alexander Graham Bell, Portrait," ca. 1920
Records of the Office of War Information; National Archives & Records Administration
(Download here)
1910 Census, District of Columbia
(Download here)
Xavier Cugat (Spain)
Musician & band leader
William P. Gottlieb, photographer, "Portrait of Xavier Cugat, New York," 1946
Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress
(Download here)
1940 Census, Detroit City, Michigan
(Download here)
William Mayo (England)
Physician & surgeon
"Franklin D. Roosevelt and the Mayo Brothers in Rochester, Minnesota," 08-08-1934
FDR Presidential Library & Museum; National Archives & Records Administration
(Download here)
1860 Census, Le Seuer Township, Minnesota
(Download here)
Sophie [Abuza] Tucker (Russian Empire)
Singer, comedian, & actress
Dick DeMarsico, photographer, "Sophie Tucker - the personal touch/World-Telegram," 1952
Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress
(Download here)
1900 Census, Hartford County, Connecticut
(Download here)
PASSENGER ARRIVAL LISTS for CELEBRITY IMMIGRANTS
from the Records of the Immigration & Naturalization Service and the U.S. Customs Service
in the physical custody of the National Archives & Records Administration
Annie Moore (Ireland)
First immigrant to enter Ellis Island
"Annie Moore Ellis Island Statue"
Ellis Island Foundation
(Download here)
Arriving Port of New York: 01-01-1892
(Download here)
Bob (Leslie Townes) Hope (England)
Comedian & film star
"Richard Nixon plays golf with Bob Hope," 09-04-1953
Richard Nixon Foundation of Audiovisual Materials
(Download here)
Stan Laurel (England)
Comic & film star
Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy, film, "Tree in a Test Tube," 1942
Office of the Secretary of Agriculture; National Archives & Records Administration
(Download here)
Madeleine Albright [Körbelová] (Czechoslovakia)
Diplomat & political scientist
Ralph Alswang, "Swearing-In Ceremony for Madeleine Albright as Secretary of State," 01-23-1997
Photographs of the White House Photograph Office, Clinton Administration
(Download here)
Knute Rockne (Norway)
College football coach
Bain News Service, Publisher, "Knute Rockne," undated
Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress
(Download here)
Arturo Tuscanini (Italy)
Conductor
"Poster: Arturo Toscanini," 02-01-1957
Records of the U.S. Information Agency; National Archives & Records Administration
(Download here)
WORLD WAR I DRAFT REGISTRATION CARDS for CELEBRITY IMMIGRANTS
from the Records of the U.S. Selective Service in the physical custody of the National Archives & Records Administration
Harry Handcuff Houdini (Hungary)
Escape artist & illusionist
"Harry Handcuff Houdini," (1913?)
Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress
(Download here)
WWI Draft Registration Card, 1917
(Download here)
Marcus Garvey (Jamaica)
Political activist
"Marcus Garvey, 1887 - 1940," 08-05-1924
Prints & Photographs Division, Library of Congress
(Download here)
WWI Draft Registration Card, 1917
(Download here)
Charlie Chaplin (England)
Comedian, actor, & film producer
International Film Service, Photographer, "Charlie Chaplin, Motion Picture Actor, Addressing a Crowd in New York City, in the Third Liberty Loan Campaign," 04-30-1918
Records of War Department General & Special Staffs; National Archives & Records Administration
(Download here)
WWI Draft Registration Card, 1917
(Download here)
Irving Berlin (Imperial Russia)
Composer & lyricist
"Cast of 'This is the Army' Backstage [speaking with Irving Berlin]," 01-02-1944
Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer; National Archives & Records Administration
(Download here)
WWI Draft Registration Card, 1917
(Download here)
WORLD WAR II DRAFT REGISTRATION CARDS for CELEBRITY IMMIGRANTS
from the Records of the U.S. Selective Service in the physical custody of the National Archives & Records Administration
Billy Wilder (Austria-Hungary)
Filmmaker & screenwriter
Photo of Billy Wilder from his Declaration of Intention, 01-10-1935
Records of the U.S. District Court; National Archives & Records Administration
(Download here)
WWII Draft Registration Card, October 1940
(Download here)
Bob (Lester Townes) Hope (England)
Comedian & film star
"Bob Hope Squatting and Talking to Audience at NBC Microphone, 1946 - ca. 1949"
Records of Navy Installations Command, Navy Regions, Naval Districts, and Shore Establishments; National Archives & Records Administration
(Download here)
WWII Draft Registration Card, February 1942
(Download here)
Victor Borge (Denmark)
Comedian & pianist
"John R. Steelman and Victor Borge Attend a Dinner," January 1958
Truman Presidential Library & Museum; National Archives & Records Administration
(Download here)
WWII Draft Registration Card, October 1941
(Download here)
WWII Draft Registration Card, October 1940
(Download here)
Peter Lorre (Hungary)
Actor
Lusha Nelson, photographer, "Peter Lorre," 10-31-1935
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
(Download here)
WWII Draft Registration Card, February 1942
(Download here)
Yul (Jules Bryner) Brynner (Russia)
Actor
Photo of Yul Brynner from his Declaration of Intention, 06-04-1943
Records of the U.S. District Court; National Archives & Records Administration
(Download here)
WWII Draft Registration Card, February 1942
(Download here)