(For this meeting there is no charge for JGSLA members. There is a $5 charge for guests.)

Documenting Immigrants to America, 1882-1954

PROGRAM: Discovering how our ancestors emigrated from overseas ports to various American cities is one of the most important components of genealogical research. This lecture will focus on the immigration and naturalization records of a typical late 19th and early 20th century immigrant. Records in the custody of both U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly INS) and the National Archives will be discussed, including ship passenger lists, Board of Special Inquiry records, land border arrival records, visa files, legalization records, Alien Registration, and naturalization and citizenship records. The presentation will conclude with a lively Q&A session so come prepared with your family history questions.
SPEAKER:: Marian L. Smith is the Senior Historian at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security. She regularly lectures at national and international genealogy conferences on the history and uses of immigration and naturalization records. Her articles appear in the National Archives journal Prologue, the FGS Forum, and other publications. Her research focus primarily involves official immigration agency records held in the National Archives in downtown Washington, D.C.

LIBRARY: The JGSLA Spiszman Traveling Library, with its collection of books and member volunteers to assist you, will be available on the Magnin Auditorium mezzanine from 7 p.m

LOCATION: Skirball Cultural Center, Magnin Auditorium 2701 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Exit the San Diego Fwy. at Skirball Center Dr. Turn right onto Sepulveda Blvd. and right again into Skirball parking, opposite the Center entrance, or turn left on Herscher Drive, north of the Center, to the underground parking lot.

ATTENDANCE FEES / RESERVATIONS: Free for JGSLA members, $5 for guests. Non-members are invited to join. Parking is free.

Last Updated January 5, 2008
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