Off the Boat: Tracing Your Ancestor back to the Old Country

This webinar features Alec Ferretti, a professional genealogist specializing in 20th-century immigration to the United States. Ferretti discusses strategies and resources for tracing ancestors back to their countries of origin, emphasizing the increasing accessibility of records online through platforms like FamilySearch and Ancestry. He details various records such as passenger manifests, naturalization records, and vital records, explaining their significance and how to access them. Ferretti also provides valuable tips for navigating the complexities of genealogical research, including the importance of verifying information and understanding the nuances of historical records.

• Genealogical research in the 21st century is greatly facilitated by the availability of online records through platforms like FamilySearch and Ancestry, though some records still require physical access or mail orders.
• Passenger manifests are crucial for tracing immigrant origins, especially post-1892 records from Ellis Island, which provide detailed information about immigrants, including their place of birth.
• Naturalization records, particularly those post-1906, are valuable resources for genealogical research, often containing detailed information about immigrants and their families, and can sometimes lead to ship manifest records.

The webinar emphasizes that contrary to common misconceptions, immigrants' names were generally not changed at Ellis Island. The records were created in Europe, and any name changes were typically due to the individual's choice or other factors, not imposed by U.S. officials.

To gain a more comprehensive understanding of the strategies and resources available for tracing your ancestors back to their origins, view the full webinar.