In order to find your ancestor's passenger of immigration information, you may need to consult a combination of guidebooks, indexes, journals, and microfilms. The online subscription database Ancestry.com (available at the Newberry Library) may also be helpful in your search. The following resources represent a portion of the Newberry's immigration holdings.
GUIDES AND BIBLIOGRAPHIES
Carmack, Sharon DeBartolo. A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your Immigrant and Ethnic Ancestors. Cincinnati, OH: Betterway Books, 2000. Call # Local History Ref. CS49.C384 2000 (2nd floor open shelf). See pages 94-111.
Colletta, John Philip. They Came in Ships: A Guide to Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor's Arrival Record. Salt Lake City, UT: Ancestry, 1993. Call # Local History Ref. CS49.C63 1993 (2nd floor open shelf). Includes case studies and bibliography.
Filby, P. William. Passenger and Immigration Lists Bibliography, 1538-1900: Being a Guide to Published Lists of Arrivals in the United States and Canada. 2nd ed. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Co., 1988. Call # Local History Ref. Z5313.U5 F54 1988 (2nd floor open shelf).
Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives of the United States. Ed. Anne Bruner Eales and Robert M. Kvasnicka. 3rd ed. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 2000. Call # Z5313.U5 U54 2000 (2nd floor open shelf). See pages 49-82 for passenger list and immigration information.
Immigrant and Passenger Arrivals: A Select Catalog of National Archives Microfilm Publications. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: National Archives Trust Fund Board, 1991. Call # Local History Ref. Z5305.U5 U54 1991 (2nd floor open shelf).
Immigrant Arrivals: A Guide to Published Sources. Comp. Virginia Steele Wood. Revised 2001. Freely available online at: http://www.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/bib_guid/immigrant/
Lancour, Hardol. A Bibliography of Ship Passenger Lists, 1538-1825. 3rd ed. New York: New York Public Library, 1963. Call # Local History Ref. Z7164.I3 L2 1963 (2nd floor open shelf).
Tepper, Michael. American Passenger Arrivals Records: A Guide to the Records of Immigrants Arriving at American Ports by Sail and Steam. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1993. Call # Local History Ref. CS49.T46 1993 (2nd floor open shelf).
GENERAL INDEXES
Boyer, Carl. Ship Passenger Lists: National and New England (1600-1825). Newhall, CA: Boyer, 1977. Call # Local History Ref. CS68.S53 (2nd floor open shelf). Also by Boyer:
Filby, P. William with Mary K. Meyer. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, plus supplement volumes (Call # Local History Ref. CS68.P363, 2nd floor open shelf). Indexes published passenger lists (from journals, books, articles) and other immigration-related records only. Note the code number in bold after the passenger's name. This code refers to the published item cited in the front of the volumes, many of which are available at the Newberry.
Immigrants to the Middle Colonies: A Consolidation of Ship Passenger Lists from the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. Ed. Michael Tepper. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1978. Call # Local History Ref. F106.I47 (2nd floor open shelf).
ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS GROUP INDEXES
Acadian
Hebert, Donald J. Acadians in Exile. Cecilia, LA: Hebert Publications, 1980. Call # Local History Ref. CS31.H4 (2nd floor open shelf).
Armenian
Avakian, Linda L. Armenian Immigrants: Boston, 1891-1901, New York 1880-1897. Camden, ME: Picton Press, 1996. Call # Local History Ref. E184.A7 A85 1996 (2nd floor open shelf).
Czech
Baca, Leonard. Czech Immigration Passenger Lists. Hallettsville, TX: Old Homestead Pub. Co., 1983. Call # Local History Ref. E184.B67 B33 (2nd floor open shelf). Includes the following ports: Baltimore from 1834-1899, New York from 1847-1896, Galveston from 1848-1914 (with gaps), and New Orleans from 1852-1899.
Danish
The Danish Emmigration Archives Database, 1868-1908. Free on-line database compiled by the Danish Emmigration Archives from police records of immigrants. More information about the database is available through the Emmigration Archives homepage.
Dutch
Dutch and German Ships Passenger Lists, 1846-1856. Comp. Edward Prins, 1972. Call # folio CS65.P75.
Swierenga, Robert P. Dutch Immigrants in U.S. Passenger Manifests 1820-1880. Wilmington, DE: Scholarly Resources, 1983. Call # Local History Ref. E184.D9 S95 (2nd floor open shelf).
English
Coldham, Peter Wilson. The Complete Book of Emigrants. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1987-1993. Call # Local History Ref. E187.5 C65 (2nd floor open shelf). Includes English emigrants from 1607-1776. Also by Coldham:
The Original Lists of Persons of Quality. Ed. John Camden Hotten. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1974. Call # E69.4193. Reprint of 1874 edition. Includes emigrants from England to America between 1600-1700.
German
Germans to America, 1850-1897 (ongoing). Ed. Ira A. Glazier et al. Wilmington, DE: Scholarly Resources, 1988-. Call # Local History Ref. E184.G3 G38 1988 (2nd floor open shelf).
Grubb, Farley Ward. German Immigrant Service Contracts Registered at the Port of Philadelphia, 1817-1831. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1994. Call # Local History Ref. F160.G3 G78 1994.
Hacker, Werner. Eighteenth Century Register of Emigrants from Southwestern Germany (to America and other counties). Apollo, PA: Closson Press, 1994. Call # Local History Ref. CS614.H33 1994 (2nd floor open shelf). Index of emigrants from present-day Baden, Wuertemmberg, Rhine Palatinate, and Saarland.
Pennsylvania German Immigrants, 1709-1786. Ed. Don Yoder. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1984. Call # Local History Ref. F160.G3 P43 (2nd floor open shelf).
Schenk, Trudy et al. The Wuerttemberg Emigration Index. Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1986. 8 vols. Call # Local History Ref. E184.G3 S34 (2nd floor open shelf). Includes emigration applicants from the late 18th century to 1900. Also available on the subscription version of Ancestry.com.
Zimmerman, Gary J. German Immigrants: Lists of Passengers Bound from Bremen to New York: 1847-1854. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1985. Call # Local History Ref. E184.G3 Z56 1985 (2nd floor open shelf). Compiled from New York arrival lists.
Greek
Voultsos, Mary. Greek Immigrant Passengers, 1885-1910. Worcester, MA: M. Voultsos, 1991. Call # Local History Ref. E184.G7 V68 1991 (2nd floor open shelf).
Irish
The Famine Immigrants: List of Irish Immigrants Arriving at the Port of New York, 1846-1851. Ed. Ira A. Glazier. Call # Local History Ref. E184.I6 F25 1983 (2nd floor open shelf).
Irish Passenger Lists, 1803-1806. . . Extracted from Hardwicke Papers. Ed. Brian Mitchell. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1995. Call # Local History Ref. E184.I6 I687 1995 (2nd floor open shelf).
Irish Passenger Lists, 1847-1871: Lists of Passengers Sailing from Londonderry to America on Ships of J & J Cooke Line and the McCorkell Line. Ed. Brian Mitchell. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1988. Call # Local History Ref. E184.I6 I75 (2nd floor open shelf).
Passenger and Immigration Lists: Irish to America. [Electronic Resource].
Schlegel, Donald M. Passengers from Ireland: Lists of Passengers Arriving at American Ports Between 1811 and 1817. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1980. Call # E184.I6 S34.
Italian
Italians to America, 1880-1901 (ongoing). Ed. Ira A. Glazier et al. Wilmington, DE: Scholarly Resources, 1992-. Call # Local History Ref. E184.I8 I844 1992 (2nd floor open shelf).
Luxembourg
Gonner, Nicholas. Luzembourgers in the New World. 2 vols. Esch-sur-Alzette: Editions Reliures Schortgen, 1987. Call # E184.L9 G65. Vol. 2 contains index of Luxembourgers mentioned in Gonner's American newspaper (1871-1918).
Mennonites
Index to Mennonite Immigrants on United States Passenger Lists, 1872-1904. Comp. and ed. David Haury. North Newton, KS: Mennonite Library and Archives, 1986. Call # folio E184.M45 H38 1986.
Scottish
A Dictionary of Scottish Emigrants to the U.S.A. Comp. and ed. by Donald Whyte. Baltimore, MD: Magna Carta Book Co., 1972. Call # Local History Ref. E184.S3 W49 1972 (2nd floor open shelf). Pre-1855 emigrants.
Dobson, David. Directory of Scottish Settlers in North America 1625-1825. 7 vols. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1985-1993. Call # Local History Ref. E184.S3 D65 (2nd floor open shelf).
Whyte, Donald. Dictionary of Scottich Immigrants to Canada Before Confederation. 2 vols. Toronto: Ontario Genealogical Society, 1986. Call # Local History Ref. F1035.S4 W49 1986 (2nd floor open shelf). Pre-1867 immigrants.
Swedish
Olsson, Nils William. Swedish Passenger Arrivals in the United States, 1820-1850. Stockholm: Schmidts Botryckeri AB, 1995. Call # Local History Ref. E184.S23 O45 1995 (2nd floor open shelf).
The Swedish Emigrant. [Electronic Resource]
Call # Local History Ref. E184.S23 S94 2001 (2nd floor CD shelf). Contains approximately 1.4 million emigrant names. See CD booklet for Swedish ports and date ranges.
Russian Empire
Migration from the Russian Empire: Lists of Passengers Arriving at the Port of New York, 1875-1891. Ed. Ira A. Glazier. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1995-. Call # Local History Ref. E184.R9 M54 1995 (2nd floor open shelf).
Moser, Geraldine. Hamburg Passengers from the Kingdom of Poland and the Russian Empire: Indirect Passage to New York, 1855-June 1873. Landsmen Press, 1996. Call # folio E184.J5 M667 1996. Names are listed alphabetically and by date.
PORT INDEXES
Baltimore
Tepper, Michael. Passenger Arrivals at the Port of Baltimore, 1820-1834. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1982. Call # Local History Ref. CS68.T46 1982 (2nd floor open shelf).
Galveston
Ships Passenger Lists: Port of Galveston, Texas, 1846-1871. Easley, SC: Southern Historical Press, 1984. Call # F385.S55.
New Orleans
Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving into New Orleans, Louisiana, 1853-1859. Call # Microfilm 1231. Please specify surname on call slip.
New Orleans Ship Lists, 1820-1823. Ed. Milton Rieder and Norma G. Rieder. Metairie, LA: The Authors, 1966. 2 vols. Call # folio H671.745.
New York
Cassady, Michael. New York Passenger Arrivals, 1849-1868. Ed. Sylvia Nimmo. Papillion, NE: S. Nimmo, 1983. Call # folio CS68.C35 1983. Selected passenger lists. Contains more then 10,000 names.
Index (Soundex) to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, July 1, 1902-Dec. 31, 1943. Call # Microfilm 1042. Ask at the 2nd floor reference desk for the reel number for your Soundex code and for the guide to using this source. Note: The print on this microfilm is extremely small and very hard to read.
Moser, Geraldine. Hamburg Passengers from the Kingdom of Poland and the Russian Empire: Indirect Passage to New York, 1855-June 1873. Landsmen Press, 1996. Call # folio E184.J5 M667 1996. Names are listed alphabetically and by date.
New York Passenger Arrivals, 1892-1924. Database presented by the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation. Freely available online at: http://www.ellisislandrecords.org
Passenger Arrivals at the Port of New York, 1820-1829. Transcribed by Elizabeth P. Bentley. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1999. Call # Local History Ref. CS68.B46 1999 (2nd floor open shelf).
Passenger Arrivals at the Port of New York, 1830-1832. Transcribed by Elizabeth P. Bentley. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 2000. Call # Local History Ref. CS68.B465 2000 (2nd floor open shelf).
Philadelphia
Tepper, Michael. Passenger Arrivals at the Port of Philadelphia, 1800-1819. Trans. Elizabeth P. Bentley. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 1986. Call # Local History Ref. CS68.T464 1986 (2nd floor open shelf).
PASSENGER LISTS ON MICROFILM
For most immigrants who arrived since 1820, you will need to search National Archives microfilm, which is described in Chapter 2 of Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives, Call # Local History Ref. Z5313.U5 U54 2000 (2nd floor open shelf).
The Newberry Library has the microfilmed passenger lists for New Orleans only. You may borrow other passenger list microfilms through the Family History Library's loan program, which is available through the Newberry and local Family History Centers. Ask for details at the 2nd floor reference desk.
Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at New Orleans, 1820-1902. Call # Microfilm 1033. Include the year or range of years on your call slip.
DIRECTORIES AND IMAGES
Adler's Directory: A Compilation of Passenger Steamships Sailing from European Ports and Arriving in the Eastern Ports of the United States from 1899 to 1929. New York: Steamship Directory Publishers, 1940. Call # HE945.A2 A3 1940 (2nd floor open shelf). Organized by year, European port, ship line, and date of U.S. arrival. Also lists major ship lines for each European port, and gives names of ships and routes for each line.
Anuta, Michael J. Ships of Our Ancestors. Menominee, MI: Ships of Our Ancestors, Inc.., 1983. Call # Local History Ref. VM381.A58 1983 (2nd floor open shelf). Images of some passenger ships.
Gibbs, C. R. Vernon. Passenger Liners of the Western Ocean. London: Staples Press, 1952. Call # U925.336
Morton Allan Directory of European Steamship Arrivals for the Years 1890-1930 at the Port of New York and for the Years 1904-1926 at the Ports of New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore. New York: Immigration Information Bureau, 1931. Call # Local History Ref. HE945.A2 M678 1931 (2nd floor open shelf). Ships are listed by year, ship line, and date of arrival.
Passenger Ships Arriving in New York Harbor, 1820-1850. Ed. Bradley W. Steuart. Bountiful, UT: Precision Indexing, 1991. Call # Local History Ref. VM381.P3 1991 (2nd floor open shelf). Lists names of ships chronologically and alphabetically.
Smith, Eugene W. Trans-Atlantic Passenger Ships Past and Present. Boston: George J. Dean Co., 1947. Call # H671.822. Descriptions of ships built between 1840 and 1940. Some images included.
RESOURCES ELSEWHERE IN CHICAGO
The National Archives Great Lakes Branch, 7358 S. Pulaski (773-581-7816, appointment required), has indexes to passengers arriving at:
The National Archives Great Lakes Branch also has chronological passenger lists for:
The Harold Washington Library, 400 South State (312-747-4300), has indexes to State Department transcripts of immigration passenger lists for:
The Wilmette Genealogical Society Branch Library, 2802 Lake Street, Wilmette, IL (847-251-9818), has an index to:
The Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton, Arlington Heights, IL (847-506-2633), has chronological passenger lists for: