>
MAIN MENU
Beginning Your Research at
Family Research
at the National Archives
Census Records
Native Americans
Passenger Arrival Records
African Americans
(Immigration)
Naturalization Records
Land Records
Military Records
Japanese Americans
Washington, DC, Area
Research Facilities
Regional Archives
Chinese Americans
Hispanic Americans
Rules for Using Records
<
>
MAIN MENU
To Contact Us
Looking for records of
your family?
Don’t know where to start?
The National Archives may
be able to help.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
NARA is the nation’s recordkeeper,
preserving and making available the
permanently valuable records of the
Federal Government.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Genealogical Interest
Any record that gives a:



Name
Place
Date
is useful for family research.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Compile as much information as
possible about your family.
1
Start with yourself,
parents, and grandparents
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Compile as much information as
possible about your family.
2
Ask your relatives
about your family history
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Compile as much information as possible
about your family.
3
Look in family records
(letters, family Bibles,
scrapbooks, diaries,
photographs, baptismal
certificates, newspaper
clippings, etc)
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Remember
●
The National Archives maintains
only the permanent records of the
Federal Government.
●
NARA does not hold birth, marriage,
divorce, or death records. We also
do not have deeds and wills. Check
with the appropriate state or county.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Remember
●
Since these records are arranged as
the agencies created them,

there is no master subject or
name index

most are not digitized
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Remember
●
Records keeping practices vary over
time. For example:

The 1790 Federal census lists only
the head of the household.

The 1880 Federal census lists
everyone in the household and their
relationship to the head of the
household.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Start with the relationship to the
Federal Government
Think of possible ways your ancestor
interacted with the Federal Government.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Principal Records of
Genealogical Interest

Census Records

Passenger Arrival Records
(Immigration)

Naturalization Records

Land Records

Military Records
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting
with the Government

Native Americans

African Americans

Japanese Americans

Chinese Americans

Hispanic Americans
<
>
MAIN MENU
Principal Records of Genealogical Interest
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Principal Records of Genealogical Interest
Article 1, Section 2, of the Constitution
requires the government to conduct a
Federal census every 10 years
(beginning in 1790).
The purpose of the Federal census is to
count the population of the United States
for apportioning representatives to the
House of Representatives.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Principal Records of Genealogical Interest
Arrangement
1790–1870
 The Federal Census is arranged by
state, county, township, or city
1880–1930
 The Federal Census is arranged by
enumeration district.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Principal Records of Genealogical Interest
Access
● There is a 72-year restriction on access
to population census information.
● Currently, the National Archives has open
Federal census records on microfilm from
1790 to 1930.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
1790–1840
Lists head of household only
Example: Paul Revere, 1810 Census in Suffolk County, Massachusetts
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
1850–1870
Records everyone in the household, but not the
relationship to the head of the household
Example: Abraham Lincoln is enumerated on page 140 of the
Sangamon County, Illinois, 1860 Census Schedule
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
1880–1930
Records everyone in the household and the relationship
to the head of the household. Enumeration districts are
noted.
Example: Laura Ingalls Wilder is enumerated on
page 2A of the Wright County, Missouri,
(Enumeration District 152) 1900 Census Schedule
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
1890
Nearly all of the 1890 census was
destroyed as a result of a
Department of Commerce fire in
1921.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
You may view Census Records at:
●
●
National Archives Building, Washington, DC
NARA’s Regional Archives
<
>
MAIN MENU
Principal Records of Genealogical Interest
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Types
●
U.S. Customs Service arrival lists, 1820–1890
●
Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
arrival lists, 1891–1957
Arrival lists are arranged by
port of entry and date of arrival
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
●
Philadelphia passenger lists begin in 1800.
Most other lists begin in 1820.
●
Pre-1820 records may be on file at the Port of
Entry or the State Archives, in the state where
the port is located.
●
For more information, see Passenger and
Immigration List Index by P. William Filby
(available in the NARA Library).
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
●
New York arrival lists are not indexed
from 1847 to 1896.
●
Canadian border crossings, also called
St. Albans lists, begin in 1895.
●
Mexican border crossings records,
1924–1954, are arranged by port of
arrival. The complete series has not yet
been microfilmed.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
INS Manifest 1907
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
INS Manifest 1953
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Availability
●
The National Archives, Washington, DC,
has a complete microfilm set of available
passenger lists.
●
NARA’s Regional Archives microfilm
copies of passenger arrival records that
cover the ports in their area.
<
>
MAIN MENU
Principal Records of Genealogical Interest
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Principal Records of Genealogical Interest
●
Naturalization was a two-step process, generally
requiring a five-year minimum residency in the
United States.
Step 1 – Declaration of Intention (First Papers)
Step 2 – Petition for Naturalization (Granted Citizenship)
●
The only copy of the certificate of naturalization
was sent to the applicant.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Declaration of Intention for
Albert Einstein, June 4, 1943
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Declaration of Intention for
Greta Garbo, September 9, 1948
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Principal Records of Genealogical Interest
●
For Federal court naturalizations, contact
the appropriate NARA Regional Archives.
●
The National Archives in Washington, DC,
holds naturalization records for Federal
courts in Washington, DC.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Principal Records of Genealogical Interest
Federal
Contact the NARA Regional Archives that
serves the state where naturalizations
occurred to request a search of Federal
court records.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Principal Records of Genealogical Interest
State
Contact the State archives for the state
where the naturalizations occurred to
request a search of state, county, and local
court records.
Local
Contact the appropriate State archives or
the county.
<
>
MAIN MENU
Principal Records of Genealogical Interest
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Principal Records of Genealogical Interest
●
The Federal Government documented
the transfer of public lands from the U.S.
Government to private ownership.
●
Land patent certificates document only
the first transfer of title of land from the
United States to another party.
●
Records of later transfers may be found
in county or state records.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Land records consist of:
●
Tract Books (documenting land transactions)
●
Patent Books (documenting official transfer
from the Federal Government to
the individual)
Tract books cover two geographical areas:
●
Eastern states
●
Western states
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
The Eastern States consist of:
For Tract Books
covering these
states
Contact:
Alabama
Iowa
Missouri
Arkansas
Louisiana
Ohio
Florida
Michigan
Wisconsin
Illinois
Minnesota
Indiana
Mississippi
Eastern States Office
Bureau of Land Management
7450 Boston Boulevard
Springfield, VA 22153-3121
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
The Western States consist of:
For Tract Books
covering these
states
Alaska
Montana
Oregon
Arizona
Nebraska
South Dakota
California
Nevada
Utah
Colorado
New Mexico
Washington
Idaho
North Dakota Wyoming
Kansas
Oklahoma
Contact:
National Archives and Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20408-0001
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Availability
Contact:
National Archives and Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20408-0001
for the following:
●
Land patent case files
●
Mineral entry case files, 1800–1908
●
Railroad land case files
●
Mineral patent case files
●
Timber patent case files
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Availability
Check the appropriate State Archives for
the following areas that are not public
Connecticut
land states:
●
●
●
●
●
●
Any state that was part of
the original 13 colonies
Hawaii
Kentucky
Tennessee
Texas
West Virginia
<
>
Delaware
Georgia
Maryland
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Virginia
MAIN MENU
Principal Records of Genealogical Interest
Records about
Military Service
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service Repositories
●
NARA holds Federal records of military
service in two repositories:
A. National Archives Building,
Washington, DC
(Revolutionary War – 1912)
B. The National Archives at St. Louis and
the National Personnel Records Center,
St. Louis, MO
(Late 19th century – Present)
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
To locate military records, you need to know as much
information as possible about the soldier’s service including:
●
●
●
●
●
Dates of service
Branch of service
Conflict fought in
Volunteer unit
Regular Army (Officer or enlisted personnel)
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service Repositories
A.
●
●
●
The National Archives Building in Washington,
DC, holds records relating to:
Volunteer enlisted men and officers whose military service
was performed during a particular war or emergency,
1775–1902
Regular Army:
 Officers, 1789–June 30, 1917
 Enlisted personnel, 1789–October 31, 1912
U.S. Navy:
 Officers, 1798–1902
 Enlisted personnel, 1798–1885
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service Repositories
A.
The National Archives Building in Washington,
DC, holds records relating to:
●
U.S. Marine Corps:
 (Some) Officers, 1798–1895
 Enlisted personnel, 1798–1904
●
Those who served in predecessor agencies of the U.S.
Coast Guard, i.e., the Revenue Cutter Service (Revenue
Marine), the Life-Saving Service, and the Lighthouse Board
1791–1919
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service Repositories
B.
The National Archives at St. Louis and the National
Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, MO, hold
military personnel files of:
●
U.S. Army officers separated after June 30, 1917, and
enlisted personnel separated after October 31, 1912
●
U.S. Air Force officers and enlisted personnel
separated after September 1947
●
U.S. Navy:
 Officers separated after 1902
 Enlisted personnel separated after 1885
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service Repositories
B.
The National Archives at St. Louis and the National
Personnel Records Center, St. Louis, MO, hold
military personnel files of:
●
●
●
U.S. Marine Corps:
 Officers separated after 1895
 Enlisted personnel separated after 1904
U.S. Coast Guard:
 Officers separated after 1898
 Enlisted personnel separated after 1914
Civilian employees of Coast Guard predecessor agencies
such as Revenue Cutter Service, Life-Saving Service,
and Lighthouse Board, 1864–1919
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
Compiled Military
Service Records
Regular Army
Pensions
Navy & Marine Corps
Coast Guard and
Predecessor Agencies
more > >
<
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
●
State Militia Records
Contact the appropriate State archives.
●
Confederate Records
●
The National Archives holds compiled military service
records for soldiers who served in the Confederate Army,
Confederate Navy, and Marine Corps.
●
NARA does not hold Confederate pensions; contact the
appropriate State archives.
more > >
<
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
Confederate Prisoners
more > >
<
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
●
Compiled military service records for volunteer
men and officers are available for:
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
<
>
Revolutionary War
War of 1812
Early (pre-Civil War) Indian Wars
Mexican War
Civil War – Union and Confederate
Later (post-Civil War) Indian Wars
Spanish-American War
Philippine Insurrection
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
more > >
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
●
When researching volunteers, start with the
compiled military service records.
●
Begin your research by consulting the appropriate name
indexes on NARA microfilm.
●
If the compiled military service records have not been
reproduced on microfilm, researchers may request to see
the original records (1775–1912) at the National Archives
Building, Washington, DC.
more > >
<
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
Compiled military service records consist of envelopes containing
card abstracts taken from muster rolls, returns, pay vouchers, and
other records.
A compiled military service record contains
some of the following information:
●
●
●
●
●
Name of soldier
Rank
Unit
Date mustered in and mustered out
Other military information
In addition, some files may contain some biographical
and medical information.
<
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
more > >
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
Compiled
Military
Service
Record
more > >
<
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
Regular Army personnel enlisted for a specific
time of duty (3 months, 3 years, etc.) rather
than for a specific war. They are the forces
that serve during peacetime.
more > >
<
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
The War Department did not compile military service
records for the Regular Army. Start your research with:
●
Register of Enlistments in the U.S. Army, 1798–1914
●
Enlisted Men – Regular Army Enlistment Papers,
1798–1894
●
Officers – Francis B. Heitman’s Historical Register
and Dictionary of the Unites States Army, From Its
Organization, September 29, 1789, to March 2, 1903
(2 volumes)
<
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
more > >
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
Regular Army Enlisted Men
<
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
more > >
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
For Regular Army enlisted men, search the following
records:
●
Enlistment Papers, 1798–1912
●
Register of Enlistments, 1798–1914
more > >
<
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
Regular Army Officers
more > >
<
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
For Regular Army officers, search the following records:
●
Francis B. Heitman’s Historical Register and
Dictionary of the United States Army
<
●
Adjutant General’s Office (AGO)
AGO letters received, 1805–1889
AGO document file, 1890–1917
●
Commission Branch,1863–1870
●
Appointment, Commission, and Personal (ACP)
files, 1871–1894
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
more > >
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
Pension Records:
●
Payment is based on service in the armed forces of the
United States between 1775 and 1916.
●
Pension records include both applications for pensions and
pensions granted.
●
Pension files often contain supporting documents such as
discharge papers, affidavits, depositions of witnesses,
narratives of events during service, marriage certificates,
birth records, death certificates, pages from family Bibles,
and other supporting papers.
more > >
<
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
Supporting information may
include photographs
more > >
<
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
Records at Archives 1:
Navy and Marine Corps
more > >
<
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
For Navy enlisted men, search the following:
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
<
>
Pension Files
Rendezvous Reports
Keys to and Register of Enlistment Returns,
1846–1902
Jackets of Enlisted Men,
1842–1885 (1885–1941 in St. Louis, MO)
Muster Rolls
Deck Logs
Court-Martial Records
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
more > >
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
For Navy officers, search the following:
●
Edward W. Callahan’s List of Officers of the Navy of the
United States and Marine Corps
<
●
Abstracts of Service (M330)
●
Examining Board and Retirement Board
●
Pension Files
●
Court-Martial Records
●
Deck Logs
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
more > >
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
For Marine Corps enlisted men, search the following:
●
Case Files (prior to 1905, after 1905 – St. Louis, MO)
●
Muster Rolls, 1789–1940
●
Pension Files – The National Archives has pension
applications and records of pension payments for
veterans, their widows, and other heirs between 1775
and 1916.
more > >
<
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
For Marine Corps officers, search the following:
●
Edward W. Callahan’s List of Officers of the Navy of
the United States and Marine Corps
●
Various Registers from 1819–1904 (with gaps)
●
Muster Rolls, August 1798–December 1940
more > >
<
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
Coast Guard
more > >
<
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
Records about
Military Service
Records at NARA,
Washington, DC
<
●
Registers of Lighthouse Keepers, 1845–1912; and
correspondence concerning Keepers and Assistant
Keepers, 1821–1902
●
Revenue Cutter Service: Records of Officers, 1791–1919;
enlisted crew: muster rolls and payrolls, 1833–1932; and
shipping articles, 1863–1915
●
Life-Saving Service: registers, 1866–1913; service
records cards, 1900–1914; and articles of engagement
for surfmen, 1875–1914
>
WASHINGTON, DC, RECORDS
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
●
The National Archives holds information about
Native Americans who maintained their ties to
Federally recognized tribes (1830–1970).
●
Most records are arranged by tribe. It is very
difficult to determine a person’s tribal affiliation if
you do not already know the tribe’s name.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Consider
●
Name of the Federally recognized tribe
●
Name of person
●
When they were alive
●
State where they lived
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Records Availability
The original administrative records of the
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) headquarters
are in the National Archives, Washington, DC.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Will Rogers’s
Enrollment Records
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Records Availability
NARA’s Regional Archives hold records created by
the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ (BIA) field offices and
Indian schools at the regional level
Student Record,
Indian School,
Carlisle, PA
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Records Availability
The National Archives at Fort Worth holds many
records relating to the Five Civilized Tribes:
Choctaw
Creek
Chickasaw
Seminole
Cherokee
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Dawes Commission Record
Seminole Nation Roll, 1905
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
For more information on the records of the Dawes
Commission, contact The National Archives at Fort Worth
www.archives.gov/southwest
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Pre-Civil War
●
Slave records are difficult to locate and are found
rarely at NARA.
●
The 1850 and 1860 slave schedules list the slave
owner’s name and the number of slaves by sex, age,
and black or mulatto.
●
The names of free African Americans may be
included in the 1790–1860 Federal censuses.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Civil War


●
United States Colored Troops (USCT)
●
Regular Army (9th and 10th Cavalry,
24th and 25th Infantry)
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Post-Civil War
Beginning in 1870, the Federal census listed
the names of African Americans including
former slaves.
For additional information, see the African
Americans in the Federal Census, 1790–1930
tutorial. It is available online at
www.archives.gov/research/census/africanamerican/african-american-census-research.ppt
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Post-Civil War
Established in 1871, the Southern Claims Commission
dealt with Civil War related claims of southerners loyal to
the Union.
African Americans submitted claims and gave testimony
before the Commission. The files may contain:
• Names, ages, and residences of former slaves
• Names of slave owners
• Slave manumissions (emancipations)
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Post-Civil War
In 1865, Congress formed the Freedman’s Bank to
benefit former slaves. NARA has microfilmed copies of:
●
Registers of Signatures of Depositors, 1865–1874
●
Deposit Ledgers Indexes in Bank Branches, 1865–1874
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Post-Civil War
Ann Blue opened this account in
Lexington, Kentucky, in August 1873.
After the bank's demise in 1874, she
sent in this passbook and received
$37.94 in dividend payments.
( Records of the Office of the
Comptroller of the Currency, RG 101)
Freedman’s Savings And Trust File
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Post-Civil War
The Freedmen’s Bureau was established on
March 3, 1865.
●
Although there are no indexes to these records, they
are an excellent source of information about freed
slaves.
●
For more information see:
Black Family Research: Records of Post-Civil War Federal Agencies
at the National Archives (Reference Information Paper 108, rev. 2010)
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
• During World War II, about 110,000 Japanese
Americans were evacuated from designated military
areas in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon,
and Washington.
• The War Relocation Authority (WRA) was set up to
carry out the removal, relocation, maintenance, and
supervision of those excluded from the military areas.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
In 1942, The Wartime Civil Control Administration
(WCAA) established ten assembly centers in:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Central Utah, Topaz, UT
Colorado River, Poston, AZ
Gila River, Rivers, AZ
Granada, Amachie, CO
Manzanar, Manzanar, CA
Minikoda, Hunt, ID
Rohwer, McGehhe, AR
Tule Lake, Newell, CA
Heart Mountain, Heart Mountain, WY
Jerome, Denson, AR
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Manzanar Relocation Center
February 1943
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
 This automated data file is available at
http://aad.archives.gov
 Among the data elements are:
•
•
•
•
•
Name
Age
Race of internee and spouse
Year and place of birth
Occupation of father
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
 The case files include personal history records
that give:
●
Name of the evacuee
●
Marital status
●
Individual and family numbers
●
Linguistic ability
●
Birthplace
●
Educational accomplishments
●
Birth date
●
Employment history
●
Religion
●
Military service records
There are access restrictions.
<
more > >
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Arrangement
By relocation center, followed by an
alphabetical list of evacuees at the center
Among the information provided are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Name
Assigned family number
Sex
Date of birth
<
Citizenship status
Pre-evacuation address
Date of entry into center
Date of departure from center
Final destination after leaving center
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Chinese Exclusion, 1882–1943
●
From 1882 to 1943, the U.S. Government
severely curtailed immigration from China to
the U.S.
●
The majority of these records are open to the
public, although access may be restricted
under the Freedom of Information Act.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Chinese Exclusion Act,
1882
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Records of the District Courts of the United States
Included among the District Court records are
thousands of case files relating to habeas corpus
actions brought in both circuit and district courts
during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Immigration Arrival
Investigation File for
Cho Ming Tsai,
September 8, 1913
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Case File
Lee Wong Hing’s efforts for
readmission to the U.S. under
the exemption for merchants in
the Chinese Exclusion Act
February 11, 1904
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Immigration and Naturalization Service,
1882–1943
A Chinese immigration case file may
contain information such as:
•
•
•
•
•
Subject’s name
Date and place of birth
Physical appearance
Occupation
Names and relationships of other family
members
• Family history
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Immigration and Naturalization Service,
1882–1943
To locate a case file:
• A researcher must know the name the immigrant or
traveler used on his or her papers, as well as the first
port at which the person entered or left the country.
• There is no master index. Individual INS districts and
some NARA regional facilities may have created indexes
to their records.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Availability of the Records
Many of the records created to implement the
Chinese exclusion laws are now in the custody of
NARA’s Regional Archives. To locate the records,
contact the Regional Archives closest to where the
person first entered or left the country.
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Mexican Border Crossings
These lists, which are available from 1924–1954, are
arranged by the port of entry into the United States.
In many cases, the information is compiled on a
manifest card rather than the traditional manifest
sheet.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Records of Groups Interacting with the Government
Among the ports are:
●
Naco and Sasabe/San Fernando, AZ
●
San Ysidro, CA
●
Columbus and Nogales, NM
●
El Paso, Rio Grande, Loredo, Eagle Pass,
Brownsville, and Houston, TX
<
>
MAIN MENU
In order to conduct research at NARA, researchers must:
• Show a photo ID
• Be at least 14 years of age
• Obtain a researcher’s card
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
No Food or Drink
No Pens
Only one box or folder on
your desk at a time
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Notes and Related Materials ALLOWED in Research Rooms:
• NARA approved research notes on loose
paper, NARA issued paper, note cards,
handouts, and NARA publications
• One approved book at a time
• Pencils and mechanical pencils
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Special Equipment* ALLOWED in Research Rooms:
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Video and audio recording decks
Cameras, camcorders, and tripods
Photographic copy stands (with approval)
Video tapes, audio tapes, and film
Scanners (only flatbed without auto feed)
Personal computers
One CD at a time
* All equipment must be removed from cases and the
cases stored in lockers
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Clothing and Personal Effects ALLOWED in Research Rooms:
●
Cell phones must be on vibrate mode or turned off. Please leave the
research room before talking on your cell phone.
●
Sweaters and sweatshirts, with or without hoods, short (waist-length), indoor
business attire (such as suit jackets, waist-length indoor jean jackets)
●
Religious headwear and garments
●
Small silk or similar indoor-type kerchiefs
●
Coin purses or small pocket-sized wallets
●
Small eye glass cases
●
Clear plastic “sandwich/food storage-type” bags for holding small items
(no larger than 10 by 10 inches)
<
>
MAIN MENU
more > >
Items ALLOWED ONLY in the Microfilm Reading Room
(National Archives Building, Washington, DC):
●
Pens, paper, and notebooks
●
Personal belongings (although we encourage
you to secure them in a locker)
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Notes and Related Materials* NOT ALLOWED in Research Rooms:
●
Envelopes, notebooks, pads, binders, folders,
pens, markers, “Post-it” notes (unless stapled
to pre-existing notes)
* Food, drink (including candy, gum, and water)
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Special Equipment* NOT ALLOWED in Research Rooms:
●
Flash bulbs
●
Personal photo copiers
●
More than one CD-ROM at a time
* All equipment must be removed from cases and the
cases stored in lockers
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Clothing and Personal Effects NOT ALLOWED in Research Rooms:
●
Outerwear: Garments worn over indoor clothing primarily as protection
against the elements, such as overcoats, coat-type sweaters, windbreakers
and jackets (other than indoor business attire)**
●
Hats, caps, or scarves
●
Purses, fanny packs, briefcases, suitcases, handbags, backpacks, boxes,
bags, equipment bags, or containers of any kind
●
Clear plastic bags, if larger than 10 by 10 inches
** You may also be asked to remove any outer clothing that is wet or contains
outdoor debris. NARA reserves the right to determine whether a garment is
considered to be outerwear.
<
>
MAIN MENU
more > >
Public lockers are available on the ground floor of the
Washington, DC, building and the basement level of the
National Archives at College Park, MD.
Please place items not permitted in the research rooms
in a locker before proceeding to do research.
<
>
MAIN MENU
Visiting the National Archives Building
(Washington, DC)
Visiting the National Archives at
College Park, MD
<
>
MAIN MENU
Visiting the National Archives
National Archives at
College Park, MD
(Washington, DC )
• Address
• Location
• Hours
• Transportation
• Parking
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
<
>
MAIN MENU
Visiting the National Archives
National Archives at
College Park, MD
• Address
• Location
• Hours
• Transportation
(Washington, DC )
National Archives Building
National Archives and Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20408-0001
• Parking
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
<
>
MAIN MENU
Visiting the National Archives
(Washington, DC )
National Archives at
College Park, MD
LOCATION
• Address
• Location
• Hours
• Transportation
The National Archives Building is located at
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW,
between 7th and 9th Streets.
Please note that there are two entrances:
• Parking
●
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
●
Pennsylvania Avenue – The Research entrance
Constitution Avenue – The Rotunda entrance (which
includes the Exhibit Hall)
<
>
MAIN MENU
Visiting the National Archives
National Archives at
College Park, MD
(Washington, DC )
RESEARCH HOURS
• Address
Monday and Tuesday
9 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Location
• Hours
• Transportation
• Parking
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
9 a.m.–9 p.m.
Saturday
9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sundays and Federal Holidays
Closed
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Visiting the National Archives
National Archives at
College Park, MD
• Address
• Location
• Hours
(Washington, DC )
RECORDS RETRIEVAL SCHEDULE
10 a.m.
11 a.m.
1:30 p.m.
2:30 p.m.
Schedule for Requesting
Textual Records
• Transportation
• Parking
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
Note: On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
there will be an additional retrieval time at
3:30 p.m. Records are not retrieved
evenings or Saturdays.
<
>
MAIN MENU
(
Visiting the National Archives
(Washington, DC )
National Archives at
College Park, MD
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
• Address
• Location
Metrorail (Washington's subway)
●
• Hours
• Transportation
• Parking
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
The Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter stop on the
Green or Yellow Line, is across Pennsylvania Avenue
from the Archives Building.
Metro Bus Service
●
Numbers 13A, 13B, 13F, 13G, 30, 32, 34, 36, 54, 70,
A42, A46, A48, P1, P2, P6, P17, P19, W13, and
Circulator Buses (Convention Center-SW Waterfront
and Smithsonian/National Gallery of Art Routes)
Note: Metrorail and Metro Bus schedules are
subject to change. Please check www.wmata.com
for current information.
<
>
MAIN MENU
Visiting the National Archives
National Archives at
College Park, MD
(Washington, DC )
PARKING
• Address
• Location
• Hours
• Transportation
There is no parking at the National
Archives Building. Commercial parking
facilities are located nearby.
• Parking
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
<
>
MAIN MENU
Visiting the National Archives
National Archives at
College Park, MD
(Washington, DC )
SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE
• Address
• Location
• Hours
The shuttle bus runs Monday through Friday only between the
Washington, DC, and College Park, MD, NARA buildings.
Leaves Washington, DC, building:
8 a.m.–5 p.m. on the hour
• Transportation
• Parking
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
Leaves College Park, MD, building:
8 a.m.–5 p.m. on the hour
Note: Researchers may use the shuttle bus on a space
available basis. This schedule is subject to change.
<
>
MAIN MENU
National Archives Building
(Washington, DC)
Visiting the National Archives at
College Park, MD
• Address
• Location
• Hours
•Transportation
• Parking
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
<
>
MAIN MENU
National Archives Building
(Washington, DC)
Visiting the National Archives at
College Park, MD
• Address
• Location
• Hours
•Transportation
The National Archives at College Park
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001
• Parking
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
<
>
MAIN MENU
National Archives Building
(Washington, DC)
Visiting the National Archives at
College Park, MD
• Address
LOCATION
• Location
• Hours
•Transportation
• Parking
The National Archives at College Park
is located on Adelphi Road near the
University of Maryland's College Park
campus.
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
<
>
MAIN MENU
National Archives Building
(Washington, DC)
Visiting the National Archives at
College Park, MD
RESEARCH HOURS
• Address
• Location
Monday and Tuesday
9 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Hours
•Transportation
• Parking
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
9 a.m.–9 p.m.
Saturday
9 a.m.–5 p.m.
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
Sundays and Federal Holidays
Closed
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
National Archives Building
(Washington, DC)
• Address
• Location
• Hours
Visiting the National Archives at
College Park, MD
RECORDS RETRIEVAL SCHEDULE
10 a.m.
11 a.m.
1:30 p.m.
2:30 p.m.
Schedule for Requesting
Textual and Special
Media Records
•Transportation
• Parking
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
Note: On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
there will be an additional retrieval time at
3:30 p.m. Records are not retrieved
evenings or Saturdays.
<
>
MAIN MENU
National Archives Building
(Washington, DC)
• Address
• Location
• Hours
•Transportation
• Parking
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
Visiting the National Archives at
College Park, MD
TRANSPORTATION
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
From I-495 (Capital Beltway) take exit 28B for
New Hampshire Avenue (Route 650) south.
On New Hampshire, take a left at the second
light onto Adelphi Road. Follow Adelphi Road
until you see the large green sign for Archives II.
Turn left into the entrance.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
National Archives Building
(Washington, DC)
Visiting the National Archives at
College Park, MD
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
• Address
●
• Location
• Hours
•Transportation
• Parking
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
●
The (R3) Metrobus* (the Greenbelt/Fort
Totten line) serves Green Line Metro stations
at Greenbelt, Prince George's Plaza, and Fort
Totten.
The (C8) Metrobus* (the College Park/White
Flint line) serves Red Line Metro stations at
White Flint and Glemont and the Green Line
Metro station at College Park.
Note: *These Metrobuses do not run on Saturdays.
Metrorail and Metro Bus schedules are subject to
change. Please check www.wmata.com for current
information.
<
>
MAIN MENU
National Archives Building
(Washington, DC)
Visiting the National Archives at
College Park, MD
PARKING
• Address
• Location
Limited visitor parking is available. Parking spaces in the
garage may fill quickly. If you intend to drive and park, note:
• Hours
● Parking at NARA is on a first come, first serve basis
● The parking garage opens to the public at 8 a.m.
•Transportation
● Overnight parking is NOT permitted
• Parking
● A security officer will check you for proper photo identification
(such as a Government ID, state ID, driver’s license, etc.) which
is required to access NARA property and direct you to your
proper destination.
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
National Archives Building
(Washington, DC)
Visiting the National Archives at
College Park, MD
SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE
• Address
• Location
• Hours
•Transportation
• Parking
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
The shuttle bus runs Monday through Friday only
between the Washington, DC, and College Park, MD,
NARA buildings.
Leaves Washington, DC, building:
8 a.m.–5 p.m. on the hour
Leaves College Park, MD, building:
8 a.m.–5 p.m. on the hour
Researchers may use the shuttle bus on a space
available basis. This schedule is subject to change.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
National Archives Building
(Washington, DC)
Visiting the National Archives at
College Park, MD
SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE (cont.)
• Address
• Location
• Hours
•Transportation
• Parking
• Transportation
between NARA
buildings
On Saturdays, the shuttle bus runs between the College Park,
MD, NARA building and the Prince George’s Plaza Metro
station.
Leaves Prince George’s Plaza Metro station:
8:15 a.m., 9:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m.,
1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m., and 5 p.m.
Leaves College Park, Maryland, NARA building:
8:45 a.m., 9:45 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m.,
1:45 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 5:30 p.m.
Researchers may use the shuttle bus on a space available
basis. This schedule is subject to change.
<
>
MAIN MENU
NARA's Regional Archives
SEATTLE, WA
BOSTON, MA
NEW YORK CITY, NY
ANCHORAGE, AK
PHILADELPHIA, PA
DENVER, CO
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
RIVERSIDE, CA
<
>
MAIN MENU
NARA's Regional Archives
The National Archives at Boston
380 Trapelo Road
Waltham, Massachusetts 02452-6399
Homepage: www.archives.gov/northeast/boston
Area served: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------The National Archives at New York City
201 Varick Street
New York, New York 10014-4811
Homepage: www.archives.gov/northeast/nyc
Area served: New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
NARA's Regional Archives
The National Archives at Philadelphia
900 Market Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-4292
Homepage: www.archives.gov/midatlantic/public/index.html
Area served: Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
NARA's Regional Archives
The National Archives at Atlanta
5780 Jonesboro Road
Morrow, Georgia 30260
Homepage: www.archives.gov/southeast/public
Area served: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Tennessee
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
NARA's Regional Archives
The National Archives at Chicago
7358 South Pulaski Road
Chicago, Illinois 60629-5898
Homepage: www.archives.gov/great-lakes/contact/directions-il.html
Area served: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
NARA's Regional Archives
The National Archives at Kansas City
400 West Pershing Road
Kansas City, Missouri 64108
Homepage: www.archives.gov/central-plains/kansas-city/index.html
Area served: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska
-------------------------------------------------------------------The National Archives at St. Louis (National Personnel Records Center)
1 Archives Drive
St. Louis, Missouri 63132-5100
Homepage: www.archives.gov/st-louis/index.html
For onsite military and civilian personnel records research (late 19th century
through ca. 1950), please call 314-801-0850 to make an appointment. The records
are subject to privacy restrictions. NPRC web pages are currently undergoing
major revisions. We anticipate publishing more definitive information about the
archival program in St. Louis in the coming months.
<
>
MAIN MENU
more > >
NARA's Regional Archives
The National Archives at Denver
Denver Federal Center, Building 48
West 6th Ave. and Kipling St.
Denver, Colorado 80225
P. O. Box 25307
Denver, Colorado 80225-0307
Homepage: www.archives.gov/rocky-mountain
Area served: Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota,
South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
NARA's Regional Archives
The National Archives at Fort Worth
501 West Felix Street, Building 1
Fort Worth, Texas 76115-3405
P. O. Box 6216
Fort Worth, Texas 76115-0216
Homepage: www.archives.gov/southwest
Area served: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
NARA's Regional Archives
The National Archives at San Francisco
1000 Commodore Drive
San Bruno, California 94066-2350
Homepage: www.archives.gov/pacific/san-francisco/index.html
Area served: northern and central California, Hawaii,
Nevada (except Clark County), American Samoa,
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------The National Archives at Riverside
23123 Cajalco Road
Perris, CA 92570
Homepage: www.archives.gov/pacific/riverside
Area served: Arizona, southern California, and
Clark County, Nevada
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
NARA's Regional Archives
The National Archives at Seattle
6125 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, Washington 98115-7999
Homepage: www.archives.gov/pacific-alaska/seattle
Area served: Idaho, Oregon, Washington (State)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------The National Archives at Anchorage
654 West Third Avenue
Anchorage, Alaska 99501-2145
Homepage: www.archives.gov/pacific-alaska/anchorage
Area served: Alaska
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
NARA's Regional Archives
Facilities open to the public for archival research
To obtain information about NARA’s
Regional Archives, see our web site at:
www.archives.gov/locations/regional-archives.html
<
>
MAIN MENU
●
Mail
●
Telephone
●
Fax
●
Electronic Request
●
Visit our web site
<
>
MAIN MENU
●
Mail
●
Telephone
●
Fax
●
Electronic Request
●
Visit our web site
 Mail
National Archives and Records Administration
Room G-13
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20408-0001
Attn: Customer Services Division (NWCC1)
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
Telephone
Telephone
●
1-866-272-6272
or
1-86-NARA-NARA
●
TDD line:
(301) 837-0482
●
Mail
●
Telephone
●
Fax
●
Electronic Request
●
Visit our web site
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
●
Mail
●
Telephone
●
Fax
●
Electronic Request
●
Visit our web site
Fax
Fax
Washington, DC, Location:
(202) 357-5934 or (202) 501-7170
College Park, MD, Location:
(301) 837-0483
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
●
Mail
●
Telephone
●
Fax
●
Electronic Request
●
Visit our web site
 E-mail
Electronic Request
Please submit your research question by visiting:
www.archives.gov/contact/
Then click on the “Ask about research and records” link
(under the “Contact Us Online” section). Please
complete and submit the form.
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
●
Mail
●
Telephone
●
Fax
●
Electronic Request
●
Visit our web site
web site
siteatat
 Visit our web
www.archives.gov
more > >
<
>
MAIN MENU
If you are viewing this at our
Washington, DC, location and
have additional questions,
please ask our staff.
<
MAIN MENU