Free Access to Only Complete Online Collection of Ellis Island Records, 1892-1957; Explore Ellis Island at the Click of a Mouse at EllisIslandExperience.com
PROVO, Utah, April 12 /PRNewswire/ — To honor the 100th anniversaries of the largest year and single day of immigration through Ellis Island, Ancestry.com, the world’s largest online resource for family history, is offering free access to the only complete online set of Ellis Island passenger arrival records (1892-1957) from April 12 to April 30. In addition, Ancestry.com is inviting users to relive the remarkable journeys of their gateway ancestors at the click of a mouse at The Ellis Island Experience — an interactive, multimedia tour of this national landmark.
More than 11,500 immigrants passed through America’s “Golden Door” on April 17, 1907, the single-day record. In total, some 1 million immigrants would come through the island in 1907 alone, making it the busiest year in Ellis Island’s 60 years of operation.
Each ship that docked at Ellis Island was required to give island officials a list of people on board. Known as passenger lists, these records reveal invaluable pieces of a family’s immigration story, from place of origin and intended destination in America to birth dates, names of family members and even the amount of money in their possession.
“For millions of Americans, Ellis Island is a monument to their ancestors’ hope, will and sacrifice — not just a New York tourist site,” said Megan Smolenyak, Chief Family Historian for Ancestry.com. “More than 12 million immigrants came through Ellis Island and though some settled in New York, most boarded trains bound for Minnesota and Colorado and other destinations across the country. Ellis Island’s influence is felt throughout America.”
From cramped, unsanitary conditions during their Atlantic voyage, to long lines and dreaded medical inspections, The Ellis Island Experience brings the “Isle of Hope” to life, illustrating the story of this great immigration station through oral histories, original photos, maps and first-hand accounts. At the click of a mouse, site visitors can now discover the legacies of immigrants’ sacrifice, survival and success, learning what drove so many millions of immigrants to leave everything they knew for a country they had never seen.
This 100th anniversary comes on the heels of the November launch of Ancestry.com’s U.S. Passenger List Collection, the largest compilation of its kind, which includes more than 100 million names of people who arrived at more than 100 U.S. ports of entry between 1820 and 1960, the height of immigration.
Ancestry.com’s easy-to-use search and navigation tools help users find their ancestors’ passenger lists. Users can view a digital image of the actual passenger list document, save to their online personal family tree, print for future reference and share via email with their family members. From April 12 through April 30, Ancestry.com is offering free access to the entire U.S. Passenger List Collection, which includes the Internet’s most comprehensive set of Ellis Island records.
The U.S. Passenger List Collection complements and combines with Ancestry.com’s eclectic and growing compilation of historical records, which also includes birth, marriage and death records, military records and the exclusive online U.S. Federal Census Collection (1790-1930).
About Ancestry.com
With 24,000 searchable databases and titles, Ancestry.com is the No. 1 online source for family history information. Since its launch in 1997, Ancestry.com has been the premier resource for family history, simplifying genealogical research for millions of people by providing them with many easy-to-use tools and resources to build their own unique family trees. Ancestry.com is part of The Generations Network, Inc., a leading network of family-focused interactive properties, including MyFamily.com, Rootsweb.com, Genealogy.com and Family Tree Maker. In total, The Generations Network properties receive 9.6 million unique visitors worldwide and over 380 million page views a month ((C) comScore Media Metrix, February, 2007).
Not all families came through Ellis Island. Where can I get records from little towns in Mexico? I need to access info on my family from Guanajuato, MX a few small towns like Guarda Reyes and Casa Blanca and Purisima Del Rincon.. I paid alot for my memebership to this site and I really think there should be more information on it about everyone My moms is easy she was born in CA so were her parents but I need to get access to my dads records even the info on where to find the records also I need a corners report or death certificte for my Grandfather who was shot in Fort Worth Texas about 1913 I don’t know how to get that info..Please help me..
All of my ancestors were in the United States by 1865. Where is the best place to search for their imigration and ship records?
Jim
For “Mary” who wanted to find her grandfather’s “corner’s report” and her ancestors in Mexico, she might try the INS. But, then again, it sounds like her family might have skipped that step.
How was her GF shot? Zoot suit rebellion?
I’d suggest she go back to her beloved Mexico to find out about her family. Especially since she and they seem to be getting such a raw deal here. (She says she “paid alot” of money to buy her memnership, apparently with no return on her investment, and suggests her GF might have been murdered by an American.)
I’m very interested in your answer to Mary on how to research ancestors who lived in the El paso area and crossed the border or became part of Texas. What records exist? My husband found his great grandfather in the Census for that area but can’t seem to find his great, great. Help!
In answer to Mary and many others of Mexican descent I strongly recommend the website of the Church of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) which has meticulously microfilmed records from many small and large towns/ cities in Mexico and can be freely searched at http://www.familysearch.org/ and records can be accessed through the Church’s many family center libraries located in almost every major US city. As far as the zoot suit riots, they were in the 1940s not in 1913 when her GF was killed. Please get your facts correct. Texas death records can be searched for the GF’s info as well as Ft. Worth newspapers for that period.
i have been searching for my daughters for many years to no avail. pls help me find them. they are: sylvia vera (mankowski) casey, born: 22 sep 50; and barbara ann (mankowski) casey, born: 21 sep 51. both were born in wiesbaden germany and immigrated to the u.s. with adoptive parents(surnamed casey), sometime between 1956- 1960. i am 80 years old now and need to see them soon. thanks for reading this note. only serious and honest replies, please! i have missed them each day since 1956.
my name is jimmy goodson my father was noble wayne goodson amd his father was joe forest goodson his wife was cora lee my mother was martha lee her father was floyd layne his wife emily any one with any history of them please contact me
This note is to correct the dates of my daughters birth (my comment of 20 sep 2007). Sylvia was born 20 SEP 1950 AND BARBARA 21 Sep 1951. Both were born to Vera M.(Mankowski) Poplin , and adopted by the Casey’s, an Air Force Family.May be known by Arvin L. Casey, or Mathew Genuser. You may contact me at Email site: [email protected] , or Tel: 1-405-359-2845. Please, only serious help. We are getting along in years! Thanks to anyone with leads.
Hello,
I am trying to complete my husbands family tree and I am running in to brick walls. His great grandmother came to the US from Italy and changed her name to get away from it all and there seems to be no place to get the right name for her. I am in desperate need for some help. Any help would be great.Thank you