Michigan, Detroit Manifests of Arrivals at the Port of Detroit - FamilySearch Historical Records

Record Description
This is an alphabetical card file manifest of individuals entering the United States through the Port of Detroit, 1906-1954. It also includes a few records of persons entering at Port Huron, Sault St. Marie, and other Michigan ports. It corresponds to NARA Publication M1478: Card Manifests Alphabetical) of Individuals Entering Through the Port of Detroit, 1906-1954.

Passenger arrival lists known as customs manifests date back to 1820. Congressional action in 1891 resulted in federal immigration officials recording the immigrants’ arrival. For an alphabetical list of names currently published in this collection, select the Browse.

This collection includes the years 1906 to 1954.

Arrival lists was 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.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Records collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.

Record Content
The index cards list the following:




 * Name
 * Citizenship
 * Age
 * Sex
 * Arrival date
 * Ship of arrival
 * Book, page and line number

Passenger lists after 1906 generally include the following information:


 * Name
 * Birth place
 * Age
 * Gender
 * Occupation
 * Nationality
 * Last permanent residence
 * Destination
 * Name and address of relative or friend
 * Port and date of entry
 * Name of ship

How to Use the Record
To search the collection, select "Browse through images" on the initial collection page ⇒ Select the Name Range which takes you to the images.

Look at the images one by one comparing the information with what you already know about your ancestors to determine which one is your ancestor. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to make this determination.

To begin your search, look for your ancestor in the card index. It is helpful to know the full name of your ancestor and the approximate date of immigration. If you do not know this information, check the census records after 1900.

Compare the information on the index card to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct person. You may need to compare the information of more than one person to make this determination. Use the locator information (arrival date, ship, book, page, and line number) to locate your ancestor in the passenger lists.

When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors. Add this new information to your records of each family. For example:

Use passenger lists to:


 * Learn an immigrant’s place of origin
 * Confirm their date of arrival
 * Learn foreign and “Americanized” names
 * Find records in his or her country of origin such as emigrations, port records, or ship’s manifests.

You may also find these tips helpful:


 * If your ancestor had a common name, be sure to look at all the entries for a name before you decide which is correct.
 * Continue to search the passenger lists to identify siblings, parents, and other relatives in the same or other generations who may have immigrated at the same time.
 * If your ancestor has an uncommon surname, you may want to obtain the passenger list of every person who shares your ancestor’s surname if they lived in the same county or nearby. You may not know how or if they are related, but the information could lead you to more information about your own ancestors.

If you do not find the name you are looking for, try the following:


 * Check for variant spellings of the name.
 * Look for other indexes. Records are often indexed by local historical and genealogical societies.
 * Search the passenger lists year by year.
 * Search the indexes of other port cities.

Known Issues with This Collection
For a full list of all known issues associated with this collection see the attached Wiki article. If you encounter additional problems, please email them to [mailto:support@familysearch.org support@familysearch.org]. Please include the full path to the link and a description of the problem in your e-mail. Your assistance will help ensure that future reworks will be considered.

Related Websites

 * Find Your Ancestors in One Step $
 * US Ports of Arrival and their Available Passenger Lists 1820-1957

Related Wiki Articles

 * Michigan
 * Michigan Emigration and Immigration

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for a Record Found in This Collection
"Michigan, Detroit Manifests of Arrivals at the Port of Detroit, 1906-1954" digital images, FamilySearch, (https://familysearch.org: accessed 9 September 2011). entry for George Howard, arrived November 14,1917; citing Port Records, Hilman, Minor Heward-Howard, Gladys D, image 9; National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.. United States.