United States, New England Seamen's Identification Cards - FamilySearch Historical Records

United States

What is in This Collection?
The records include identification cards of Seamen departing from or arriving at the following ports: Boston, Vineyard Haven, Salem/Beverly, Marblehead, Fall River, New Haven, Portland, and Providence. The record includes name, age, place of birth, parent's birthplace, naturalization data, physical description, photo, and signature. The records can be found at NARA Northeast Region facility in Waltham, Massachusetts. This collection includes records from 1918 to 1940.


 * District of Boston and Charlestown, Massachusetts, Seamen's Identification cards,1917-1922 NAID 3477933
 * District of Salem and Beverly,Massachusetts, Seamen's Coastwise Identification Cards for Salem, 7/1918-12/1918 NAID 3477999
 * District of Marblehead, Massachusetts, Seamen's Coastwise Identification Cards, 7/1918-10/1918 NAID 3477979
 * District of Boston and Charlestown,Massachusetts, Applications for Seamen's Protection Certificates and Identification Cards for Boston, 2/12/1918-11/24/1939 NAID 3444809
 * District of Providence, Rhode Island, Applications for Seamen's Protection Certificates for Providence, 5/1928-10/1940 NAID 3477996
 * District of Connecticut, Applications for Seamen's Protection Certificates for New Haven, 2/1937-7/1937 NAID 3477982
 * District of Boston and Charlestown, Alien's Applications for Seamen Service and Protection Certificates for Boston, 12/1931-7/1935 NAID 3476677
 * District of Portland, Maine, Application's for Seamen's Protection Certificates for Portland,8/1927-11/1937 NAID 3477986

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

Identification Card
 * Port
 * Name
 * Nationality
 * Place of birth
 * Place of father's birth
 * Place of mother's birth
 * If naturalized, where and when
 * Age
 * Birth date
 * Height
 * Vessel
 * Physical description
 * Photograph
 * Thumb print
 * Signature

How Do I Search This Collection?
Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:
 * The name of your ancestor
 * The approximate age of your ancestor
 * The place where your ancestor was born

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select the County
 * 2) Select the Town
 * 3) Select the Record Type, Number, Date Range 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?
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. Add this new information to your records of each family.

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

 * Use the name, birth date and birth place to obtain a birth certificate
 * Use the name and birth place to search census records
 * Search for other military records
 * Search for naturalization records

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

 * Look for variant spellings of the surname
 * Search for records in the county where the seaman lived
 * Search for other family members in the records

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the United States.
 * United States Guided Research
 * United States Record Finder
 * Research Tips and Strategies

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.