Thank you for registering for the online course, Researching Immigrant Ancestors to America, 1620–1965
For centuries, people have immigrated to America to escape religious or social persecution, claim a better life, or seek adventure. No matter what century your ancestors arrived in America, this five-week online seminar will provide you with the historical context, records, resources, and research strategies for understanding immigration and naturalization in the United States since 1620. From passenger lists and border crossings to naturalization records and alien files, our instructors will explain how various records can be used in your family history research. We will also provide several case studies demonstrating how to uncover immigrant origins and next steps in taking your research back to the old country.
This course includes five 90-minute classes and exclusive access to handouts and recordings of each presentation. These recordings and all course materials will be available for the foreseeable future.
COURSE SCHEDULE
July 3 - Class 1 – Coming to America: 400 Years of Immigration and Naturalization in the United States
Presented by Rhonda R. McClure
This first class will discuss the historical context surrounding passenger lists and migration, as well as the laws that shaped the way that passenger lists have been recorded. We’ll also discuss how to conduct research on individual ships, and how this can provide clues for tracing your ancestor’s migration.
July 10 - Class 2 – Passenger Lists
Presented by Hallie Kirchner
Passenger lists are an invaluable resource in family history research—they can help you “jump across the pond” to find your ancestors’ origins, provide clues in determining familial relationships, and later passenger lists can even provide details about what your ancestors looked like. But passenger lists can also be difficult to navigate—early lists provide minimal information, which can make it difficult to identify your ancestor in the records. You may also see variations in names and spellings, listed birth years, and more. This session will discuss the historical context of passenger lists and how they changed over time. You’ll also gain tips to help you navigate passenger lists and trace your ancestors’ arrival to the United States!
July 24 - Class 3 – Naturalization Records
Presented by Rhonda R. McClure
No matter what century your ancestors arrived in America, newcomers were expected to show allegiance to their new land. Over time, that expectation developed into the present-day naturalization process. Following the paper trail your ancestor left on the path to citizenship can lead to important genealogical discoveries. This session will discuss the naturalization process since the seventeenth century, what documentation exists, what information these records contain, and how to locate these important documents.
July 29 - Class 4 – More Immigration Records
Presented by James Heffernan
Beyond the all-important passenger list, immigration to America resulted in the creation of several other records. This class will demonstrate how to utilize several records, including: passports (both those from the origin nation and those later applied for by naturalized US citizens), border crossings, embarkation records, C-Files (naturalization certificates, 1906-1956), AR-2 Files (Alien Registration Forms, 1940-1944), WWI Alien Registrations (1918, gathered by each state), Visa Files (1924-1944), A-Files (1944-1951), and the Arolsen Archive database, which documents European refugee arrivals following Nazi persecution.
July 31 - Class 5 – Case Studies for Finding Immigrant Origins and Parents in the Old Country
Presented by Hallie Kirchner
One of the hardest tasks a family historian can embark upon is to “jump across the pond” and discover exactly where in the old country ancestors hail from. This final class will provide practical strategies and a methodical step-by-step approach to uncovering immigrant origins and furthering your research to uncover parents and extended family.
COURSE HANDOUTS
Class 1 Handout
Class 1 Slides (Worksheet)
Class 1 Slides (Large)
Class 2 Handout
Class 2 Slides (Worksheet)
Class 2 Slides (Large)
Class 2 - Resources Shared After Live Session
Class 3 Handout
Class 3 Slides (Worksheet)
Class 3 Slides (Large)
Class 3 - Resources Shared After Live Session
Class 4 Handout
Class 4 Slides (Worksheet)
Class 4 Slides (Large)
Class 4 - Resources Shared After Live Session
Class 5 Handout
Class 5 Slides (Worksheet)
Class 5 Slides (Large)
RECORDED PRESENTATIONS
Class 1: Coming to America: 400 Years of Immigration and Naturalization in the United States
Live broadcast: July 3, 2024
Presented by: Rhonda R. McClure
Running time: 1:50:40
Live broadcast: July 10, 2024
Presented by Hallie Kirchner
Running time: 1:36:42
Class 3: Naturalization Records
Live broadcast: July 25, 2024
Presented by Rhonda R. McClure
Running time: 1:48:24
Class 4: More Immigration Records
Live broadcast: July 29, 2024
Presented by James Heffernan
Running time: 1:18:18
Class 5: Case Studies for Finding Immigrant Origins and Parents in the Old Country
Live broadcast: 07/31/2024
Presented by Hallie Kirchner
Running time: 1:16:44
OTHER RESOURCES
Archived Webinar: Closing the Golden Doors: The Immigration Act of 1924
Portable Genealogist: Immigration to the U.S.
INSTRUCTOR BIOS
James Heffernan, Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press earned his BA in history at Boston College. Before joining the American Ancestors team, he worked in the conservation department of the John J. Burns Library at Boston College and the research library at Plimoth Plantation. Propelled by his interests in genealogy and history, James spent a semester abroad at Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. In addition to Slavic history, he is very interested in the history of Colonial America and 19th century Massachusetts.
Hallie Kirchner, Genealogist has a B.A. in History with minors in Art History and German Language and an M.A. in Historic Preservation. She joined American Ancestors in 2019 after several years of working in architectural restoration and preservation in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her previous work experience includes the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society, the West Virginia Railroad Museum, and Bender Library at American University. While at the NYG&B, she was part of the research team who compiled the popular New York Family History Research Guide and Gazetteer. She is also a long-time volunteer for Unclaimed-Persons.org, assisting coroners in locating next-of-kin of deceased individuals. Her areas of expertise include, 19th-century America, Germany, New York, New York City, Norway, Italy, westward migration, immigration history, and descendancy research.
Rhonda R. McClure, Senior Genealogist is a nationally recognized professional genealogist and lecturer. Before joining American Ancestors in 2006, she ran her own genealogical business for 18 years. She was a contributing editor for Heritage Quest Magazine, Biography magazine, and was a contributor to The History Channel Magazine and American History Magazine. In addition to numerous articles, she is the author of twelve books including the award-winning The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Online Genealogy, Finding your Famous and Infamous Ancestors and Digitizing Your Family History. She is the editor of the 6th edition of the Genealogist’s Handbook for New England Research. Her areas of expertise include, immigration and naturalization, late 19th- and early 20th-century urban research, missionaries, State Department Federal records, New England, Mid-West, Southern, German, Italian, Scottish, Irish, French Canadian, and New Brunswick research as well as Internet research, genealogical software and online trees.