Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Passenger Lists Index Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
The collection consists of a name index and images from a Soundex card index to Philadelphia passenger lists from 1 Jan 1883 through 28 Jun 1948. Each card contains the given name, family name, place of birth, age, gender, occupation, nationality, last permanent residence, destination, name &amp; address of relative or friend, port &amp; date of entry, name of ship, and the volume, page, and line number in the passenger lists. The cards are field according to the Soundex number associated with each family name and then by given names. This collection corresponds to NARA publication T526: Index (Soundex) Cards, Ship Arrivals at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1883-1948. Passenger arrival lists do not exist from July 1, 1948 to November 30, 1954.

The soundex index is a phonetic index that groups together names that sound alike but are spelled differently, for example, Stewart and Stuart. The index cards are filed according to the soundex number associated with each family name and then by given names. For more information on soundex indexes and help with coding names and using the index, see the wiki article: Soundex This collection will index passenger lists on NARA publication T840 Passenger Lists of vessels Arriving at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1883-1945.

Passenger arrival lists known as customs manifests date back to 1820. Congressional action in 1891 resulted in federal immigration officials recording the immigrants’ arrival. Arrival lists were used by legal authorities to gather personal information about immigrants prior to the person being allowed to live in the United States. The information was supplied by the immigrant or a traveling companion (usually a family member). Incorrect information was occasionally given, or mistakes may have been made when the clerk guessed at the spelling of foreign names.

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:

Passenger list
 * Full name of passenger
 * Number of persons accompanying passenger
 * Birth place
 * Age, gender, marital status and occupation
 * Place of nativity
 * Whether passenger is able to read and write
 * Last permanent residence
 * Name and address of relative or friend in former country
 * What is final destination
 * Physical description
 * Arrival date and port of entry
 * Name of ship
 * Volume and page number

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate year of arrival to Philadelphia

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select the Description 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.

What Do I Do Next?
Whenever possible, view the original records to verify the information and to find additional information that might not be reported. These pieces of information can lead you to additional records and family members.

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

 * Use the information to find other records such as emigrations, port records, ship’s manifests, birth, christening, census, and land records
 * Learn foreign and “Americanized” names
 * Use the information to find additional family members in census records
 * Search for vital records, such as birth, marriage, and death for the family
 * Search for naturalization records
 * Search for land and probate records

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

 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, then try searching records of a nearby locality
 * Standard spelling of names typically did not exist. Try variations of your ancestor’s name while searching the index or browsing through images
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Pennsylvania.
 * Pennsylvania Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

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.


 * Collection Citation:"Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Passenger List Index Cards, 1883-1948." Database with images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : 14 June 2016. Citing NARA microfilm publication T526. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.