Weekly Online Lesson Online Lesson Archive Grade Level: 7-12 Subject: Social Studies

Ellis Island Online

On Tuesday, April 17, 2001, a searchable database of the arrival records for Ellis Island, which includes immigrants' names, nationality and other vital information, became available online. The site was so overwhelmed by an estimated 10 million visitors within its first 24 hours of operation, that the system crashed.

The simultaneous success and failure of this large database certainly demonstrates how people are actively interested in researching their roots. Over 100 million Americans have at least one ancestor who entered this country through Ellis Island, N.Y., which processed immigrants between 1892 and 1954. As America continues to become an integrated culture, often leading to the decline of historical connections to our ancestral heritage, the desire and capability to trace family histories for ourselves and our future generations will also continue to rise.

Although the Ellis Island Records site might be temporarily tapped out, there's plenty of other clues to track down and resources to sort through both on-the-ground and online to start the journey into your historical past.

Starting at Ground Zero

Tracing your roots takes a lot of detective work, but the discoveries will create a revealing trail through the past. The best clues come from family heirlooms and administrative paperwork. Explore the PBS site on Ancestors and familiarize yourself with the glossary of terms and understand what types of records are helpful as clues. Also read a great primer on how to stay organized during your research, called 20 Ways to Avoid Genealogical Grief at the Rootsweb site.

Rooting Around in the Family Closet

A good place to pick up the trail of your ancestors begins with your closest relatives. Track down photographs, letters, diaries, etc. from family members, if possible. Review the Rootsweb's helpful guide, Tracing Your Immigrant Ancestors, for information about what records exist for different periods of immigration. A ship's records can produce a lot of good clues; read Cathy's Story: Island of Tears as an example of where it can lead.

As you research, create a tree of individuals' names, marriages and children as best you can. Read the Genealogy.com essay, They Changed My Name at Ellis Island, to understand how and why people changed their last names, or surnames, since you may have relatives whose surname varies slightly.

Also keep your eyes open for personal stories. When and why did your ancestors immigrate to America? Where did they come from? Where did they enter the country? Read Coming to America, which describes what some people experienced when they immigrated to America. If you can't find any personal stories, think about what the migration from your ancestor's homeland and their transition into America was like for them, based on the time period you estimate for their arrival. Keep in mind that different lines of ancestry likely arrived at different times and from different places.

Digging Up the Dirt Online

Creating the foundation of your family tree helps make online research easier. As more valuable and documented information becomes available on the Internet, like the Ellis Island Records, putting together the pieces of the ancestral puzzle will become easier. Read PBS's Megan's Story: Dusty Memories to learn how one woman used a combination of clues, including a search of the Social Security Death Index, to discover the family she never knew about.

For those who want to get serious about filling in their family tree using online resources, review the Internet Genealogy section at Genealogy.com. The guide offers reference, database, libraries, and historical timeline links, along with tips on how to organize and compile your research.

And don't forget to visit the Ellis Island and Ellis Island Records sites; some of your ancestors may have entered the U.S. there. Likely, these sites should be up and running again as the organizations get a handle on the demand for these resources. In the meantime, you can visit the National Park Service site that describes some of the detailed history of Ellis Island.

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