California, San Francisco Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This collection consists of digital images of inbound passenger manifests, crew lists, and related form 1-489 (statement of changes in crew). These records are arranged in chronological order by date of arrival. The passenger lists are form 1-415 (manifest of inbound passengers, alien) and form 1-416 (manifest of inbound passengers, US citizens or nationals). The collection corresponds to NARA Publication M1411: Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at San Francisco, CA, December 1, 1954-February 1, 1957. There is a gap in the original records between September 18, 1955 and November 8, 1955 because roll 9 is missing at NARA. The collection is part of Record Group 85 Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

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

Passenger / Crew list
 * Port and date of departure
 * Port and date of entry
 * Name of ship
 * Country of citizenship
 * Name of passenger, including maiden name of women
 * Names of persons accompanying passenger
 * Age, gender, marital status and occupation of passenger
 * Date and place of birth of passenger
 * Address of last permanent residence
 * Name and address of friend or relative at last address
 * Final destination
 * Name and address of friend or relative in U.S.
 * Physical description and distinguishing marks
 * Who paid for passage
 * Purpose of visit

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

View the Images
View images in this collection by visiting the :
 * 1) Select the NARA Roll Number
 * 2) Select the Arrival Date
 * 3) Select the Ship Name 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?
Indexes and transcriptions may not include all the data found in the original records. Look at the actual image of the record, if you can, to verify the information and to find additional information.

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

 * Add any new information to your records
 * Use the information found in the record to find additional family members in census records
 * Search for vital records, such as birth, marriage, and death
 * Search for naturalization records
 * Search for military records

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

 * If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
 * If you cannot locate your ancestor in the locality in which you believe they lived, try searching a nearby locality
 * Try different spellings 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 in your research for 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
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research: 1850-1905 | 1905-Present

Related Family History Library Holdings

 * California, San Francisco passenger and crew lists of vessels arriving, 1954-1957

Related FamilySearch Historical Record Collections

 * California, San Francisco Passenger Lists, 1893-1953
 * California, index to San Francisco passenger lists, 1893-1934

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.