California, Los Angeles and San Pedro, Passenger Lists - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains passenger lists of vessels temporarily arriving at Los Angeles and San Pedro, California, March 1920-January 1949. After such, the vessels continued on to their final destinations either to a United States port or foreign port. The final destination of the vessel is indicated on the record. These records correspond with NARA publication A3385 and were filmed at the NARA facility in College Park, Maryland.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
Passenger Lists may contain the following information:


 * Full name
 * Age
 * Gender
 * Marital status
 * Occupation
 * Citizenship
 * Race
 * Last permanent residence
 * Birthplace
 * Final destination

How Do I Search the Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The full name of your ancestor
 * The approximate age or date of immigration

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the : Select the NARA Roll Number to view the images.

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Use the information found in the record to find the ship manifest
 * Use the record to learn the place of origin and find vital records such as birth, baptism, and marriage
 * Use the information found in the record to find land and probate records
 * Use the record to see if other family members may have immigrated with the person you are looking for

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking for, What Now?

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby town or county
 * Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials
 * Look for the Declaration of Intent soon after the immigrant arrived. Then look for the naturalization petition five years later, when the residency requirement would have been met. Look for naturalization records in federal courts, then in state, county, or city courts. An individual may have filed the first and final papers in different courts and sometimes in a different state if the person moved. Immigrants who were younger than 18 when they arrived did not need to file a Declaration of Intent as part of the process
 * Check other possible ports of entry

Record Finder
Consult the California Research Tips and Strategies and its Record Finder to search other records

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.