Washington, Seattle Passenger Lists - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection consists of passenger and crew lists for those arriving in Seattle, Washington. It corresponds to NARA Publication M1383: Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at Seattle, Washington. and is part of Record Group 85 Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The collection is arranged by ship arrival date.


 * NARA Seattle Passenger and Crew Lists Collection Description M1383
 * NARA Seattle Passenger Collection Description M1485
 * NARA Seattle Passenger and Crew Lists Collection Description M1398

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

Passenger lists prior to 1906 
 * Name
 * Date of arrival
 * Port of embarkation
 * Name of ship

Passenger lists after 1906
 * Date and port of embarkation
 * Name and age of immigrant
 * Birthplace
 * Gender, marital status and occupation
 * Country of citizenship
 * Place of last residence in that country


 * Name and address of relative or friend in that country
 * Name and address of relative or friend in this country
 * Final destination
 * Physical description
 * Date and port of entry
 * Name of ship

Sample Images
The passenger lists are digital copies of the original records. The earliest records are handwritten pages. Later records are usually handwritten on pre-printed pages. The records are arranged by the date of entry into port. 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.

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * Name of the person
 * The location or date of the event

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?

 * Add any new information to your records
 * 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 identify additional family members

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

 * Try viewing the original record to see if there were errors in the transcription of the name, age, residence, etc
 * Remember that there may be more than one person in the records with the same name
 * Collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you identify possible relations that can be verified by records
 * 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 during the periods our ancestors lived in. Try variations of your ancestor’s name
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Washington.
 * Beginning Research in United States Immigration and Emigration Records
 * Washington Guided Research
 * Washington Record Finder
 * Washington Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1907 | 1907-Present

Other FamilySearch Collections
These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Michael J. Anuta,Ships of our ancestors Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Company, 1993, 2006 FS Library 973 U3an 1993
 * Michael Tepper, American passenger arrival records : a guide to the records of immigrants arriving at American ports by sail and steam Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Publishing Company, c1993 FS Library 973 W27am 1993
 * John Philip Colletta,They came in ships : a guide to finding your immigrant ancestor's arrival record. 3rd ed. Orem, Utah : Ancestry Publishing, c2002 FS Library 973 W27c 2002
 * Passenger and crew lists of vessels arriving at Seattle, Washington, 1890-1957: M1383
 * Passenger lists of vessels arriving at Seattle from U. S. insular possessions, 1908-1917: M1485
 * Passenger lists of vessels arriving at Seattle, Washington : NARA M1398, 1949-1954
 * Crew lists of vessels arriving at Seattle, Washington, 1903-1917 : NARA M1399
 * U.S. Department of the Treasury. Official ships log books. National Archives Branch in Seattle, Washington.

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.