Arizona, Nogales, Index and Manifests of Alien Arrivals - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection contains over 455,000 manifests and related index cards of permanent and temporary alien arrivals at Nogales, Arizona, 1905-1952. The cards are arranged alphabetically by surname and include such information as name, age, gender, marital status, occupation, citizenship, race, last permanent residence, birthplace, etc. The original records were filmed by the INS in August-October 1956 and then destroyed. The microfilms were later transferred to the National Archives under NARA publication M1769.

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


 * Name
 * Age
 * Race
 * Gender
 * Marital Status


 * Occupation
 * Citizenship
 * Last place of residence
 * Birthplace

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

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?
When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given
 * 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
 * Print or download a copy of the record, or extract the genealogical information needed

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

 * Use the person's name and place of birth to find a birth certificate which should list the names of the parents
 * Use the country of citizenship to lead you to immigration or naturalization records
 * Use the person’s age and residence to find family in census, church, and land records
 * Use the marital information to find marriage records. Witnesses were often family members
 * When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct
 * Continue to search the index and records to identify siblings and other relatives who may also have registered for the draft
 * Census, military service, military pension, immigration, naturalization, and land records can be very useful
 * Use employment information to lead you to trade, business, land, property, or education records

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

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. Pay special attention to how the name should have been pronounced and try variations on the pronunciation
 * Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names, or even initials
 * Immigrant first names may be in their native language
 * Search the records of nearby localities
 * Look at the 1930 and 1940 censuses to identify names and ages of additional family members

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Arizona.
 * Arizona Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1910 &#124; 1900-Present

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.