Investigate ship passenger lists for where your ancestors emigrated from and when and where they arrived. Passenger arrival records may provide information such as one’s nationality and birthplace; ship name and date of entry to the U.S.; age, height, eye and hair color; profession; place of last residence; name and address of relatives they are joining in the U.S.; the amount of money they are carrying, etc.

Records, documents, and photos sometimes lurk in the most unexpected places. Closely review organizations, websites, museums, and archives for listings of what is in their collections.