California, index to San Francisco passenger lists - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection includes three indexes for arrivals at the Port of San Francisco from 1893-1934. The indexes are from National Archives Microfilm Publication M1389, Indexes to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at San Francisco, CA., 1893-1933, and are part of Record Group 85 Records of the immigration and Naturalization Service.
 * General Index to non-Chinese Arrivals, Rolls 1-21
 * Index to Arrivals from the Philippines, Honolulu, and Insular Possessions, Sept 30, 1902-June 12, 1907, Rolls 22-27
 * Arrivals from the East indies, May 28, 1907-October 28, 1911, Roll 28


 * Indexes California, San Francisco Passenger Lists, 1893-1953 NARA M1410

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records: • 3

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The age and birth place of your ancestor
 * The approximate date of immigration

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 the new information to your records
 * If possible, use what you know to find an image of the original record. The index contains only basic identifying information for a person; the original record therefore may contain more information not found in the index.
 * Continue to search the index for family members.

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

 * Check for variants of given names and surnames. It was not uncommon for an individual to be listed under a nickname, middle name, or abbreviation of their given name (Do not include the nickname instructions to foreign collections as the list is US-oriented)
 * Search the records of nearby locations

Research Helps
The following articles will help you research your family in the state of California.
 * Beginning Research in United States Naturalization Records
 * Beginning Research in United States Immigration and Emigration Records
 * California Guided Research
 * California Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1905 | 1905-Present

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

FamilySearch Catalog

 * Index to passenger lists of vessels arriving at San Francisco, California, 1893-1934: M1389
 * Passenger lists of vessels and alien manifests arriving at San Francisco, California, 1893-1953 : NARA M1410
 * Alphabetical index of ships arrival at the port of San Francisco, California, from ca. 1840 to 1 December 1954, NARA M1437

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.