From Despair to Cargoes of Hope: WWII's Displaced Persons
Ann Staley, CG, CGL
Content
About this webinar
About the speaker
Key points and insights
In the powerful webinar From Despair to Cargoes of Hope: World War II’s Displaced Persons, genealogist Ann Staley guides researchers through a pivotal and often overlooked chapter of immigration history. This session, hosted by the Board for Certification of Genealogists, delves into the experiences and records of millions of European refugees uprooted during and after WWII. With passion and precision, Staley illuminates the challenges these individuals faced, the legislative milestones that shaped their migration, and the treasure trove of genealogical records left behind—vital for anyone tracing ancestors who might have been among these displaced persons (DPs).
Key Takeaways:- The Displaced Persons Acts of 1948 and 1950: These laws offered new hope for over 336,000 refugees, enabling their resettlement in the U.S. under strict eligibility and sponsorship criteria. The acts introduced preferences based on occupation and family ties, and included detailed procedures for medical exams, background checks, and sponsorship assurances.
- Genealogical Goldmines in Government Records: Researchers can access extensive documentation in U.S. National Archives record groups, including visa applications, assurance forms, transport manifests, and medical records. These materials often contain rich personal details—names, birthplaces, family relationships, and destinations—that can be essential for constructing family histories.
- Valuable Institutional and Online Resources: Beyond government archives, the presentation highlights holdings from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, FamilySearch, and the Center for Migration Studies. These institutions house digital collections, correspondence files, children’s case files, and displaced persons newspapers—many of which are searchable online or by request.
To uncover the full breadth of insights, including practical examples, search strategies, and lesser-known record types, view the full webinar here. The accompanying syllabus is rich with links, reference numbers, and archival tips—an essential companion to further your research.
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Comments (19)
A very helpful presentation on Displace Persons.
Ann is such a wonderful speaker. Her webinars are always so informative and thought provoking. Thank you so much for having her.
What a wealth of information! My family and I arrived in the U.S. in December 1949 - we actually had many relatives in the US. since the 1870s, some of them sponsored us. This information is very interesting to me. I'm doing an extended family tree. I never realized before just how many roots I have in the U.S.
Interesting presentation, with plenty of resource tips, on a topic I have never considered.
It is pure coincidence that on Sunday I attended a meeting of the Global Jewish Genealogical Society presented by a member of the reference staff at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. She explained that they are unfortunately short staffed right now, and may suffer further budget cuts due to the current administration. But she also explained that the best first place to start a search of their records is the Collection Search, which is reachable from that left-hand margin that was shown tonight.
Fantastic presentation on a little known or talked about topic. Great list of resources and a lively and engaging speaker.
Excellent and new information to me.
Unstudied topic. Very interesting historical records