How to Write a Family Immigration Paper
Every U.S. family has an immigration story. Some families have to trace their ancestors back several generations to find that story while others can find it in more recent generations. Writing a paper about the immigration of your ancestors will open your eyes to the lives the ancestors lived in the old country, the hardships they endured prior to and while crossing the ocean and their lives in the U.S.
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Instructions
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Conduct research to locate facts on your immigrant ancestors. Search passenger ship manifests for a name, approximate age of the individual and a country of origin and destination. Ship manifests from around 1900 reveal more information which may include occupation, town of origin, name and addresses of family members in the old country and the U.S. These manifests will also provide a ship name, arrival port and arrival date. Note if any family members traveled with the immigrant.
If an immigrant traveled alone and there is information that suggests he left his family in the country of origin, search additional passenger lists for the remaining family members.
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Investigate naturalization papers if a ship name and arrival date is not known or located. Naturalization papers contain the name of the individual and country of origin. Papers issued closer to 1900 and beyond provide greater details such as birth date and place, arrival date and port, and ship name. Some papers also include the names of family members being naturalized with the immigrant.
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Research the ship on which the ancestor arrived. Research the port. Did the immigrant enter through the Port of New York? Was it prior to 1892 when it was called Castle Garden or after 1892 when it was Ellis Island?
Investigate reasons why the ancestor may have immigrated. Possible reasons may include famine, war, religious beliefs or the dream of a better life. These reasons impacted when and why an individual immigrated.
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Write the family immigration paper outlining the names of the immigrants. Provide the ship name, arrival date and port. Include additional information discovered through the ship manifests and naturalization papers.
Add information about why the immigrant may have left his country of origin to come to the U.S. Use words like "possible" or "probable" or "a theory is" rather than stating facts which cannot be proven.
Discuss the immigrant's family and life in the U.S. Where did he live? What was his life like? If he came alone, did he marry in the U.S. or send for his family later?
Conclude with a family story about the immigrant and how coming to the U.S. changed his life.
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