Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Buffalo, Lewiston, Niagara Falls, and Rochester, New York, 1902-1954
Updated February 10, 2003
Table of
Contents
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2: Background
Part 3: Records Description
Part 4: Roll List
Part 1: Introduction
NARA microfilm publication M1480, Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Buffalo, Lewiston, Niagara Falls, and Rochester, New York, 1902-1954 (165 rolls) reproduces card manifests of over one million alien arrivals. Some citizen arrivals are also included. The bulk of the arrivals were at Buffalo and Niagara Falls. The cards are arranged by soundex code and include permanent, temporary, statistical, and nonstatistical arrivals. These records are part of the Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Record Group (RG) 85.
Where to Find These RecordsDo your own research:District of Columbia: National Archives Building, 700 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20408-0001. Phone: 202-501-5400. Massachusetts: NARA Northeast Region (Pittsfield, MA), 10 Conte Drive, Pittsfield MA 01201-8230. Phone: 413-445-6885. New York: NARA Northeast Region (New York City, NY), 201 Varick Street, New York NY 10014-4811. Phone: 212-337-1300.Obtain immigration records by mail:Paper copies of immigration records from microfilm publication M1480 can be ordered by mail using one NATF Form 81 for each person. You can obtain the NATF Form 81 by providing your name and mailing address to www.archives.gov/contact/inquire-form.html. Be sure to specify "Form 81" and the number of forms you need.Purchase this microfilm, see How to Obtain Microfilm
You can also obtain the NATF Form 81 by writing to: National Archives and Records Administration, Attn: NWCTB, 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20408-0001.
Part 2: Background
For more information about immigration records, see Immigration Records and By Way of Canada: U.S. Records of Immigration across the U.S.-Canadian Border, 1895-1954.
Part 3: Records Description
The arrivals included in this microfilm publication include permanent and temporary, statistical and nonstatistical arrivals. They primarily consist of aliens returning from a visit abroad, although there are a large number of aliens apparently entering the U.S. for the first time. Some U.S. citizens are also included. Since the manifest cards indicate the alien`s previous port and date of arrival in the U.S. or Canada, these manifests serve as a useful finding aid to locating records of those previous arrivals. The manifests are arranged by the soundex coding system.
Rolls 2, 4-9, and 49 begin with a short section of retakes (images refilmed to ensure legibility). Rolls 24, 44, and 49 begin with long retakes sections described in the Roll List. Due to camera operator error, the following cards were not microfilmed or filmed at an improper exposure (resulting in their being unreadable); they no longer exist in any form:
- E-660 Mijos (last readable card) thru F-000 Burt (next readable card)
- K-435 Celine (last readable card) thru K-435 William H. (last card according to original INS microfilm box label)
- R-324 Arthur (last readable card) thru R-324 Martin (next readable card)
- R-336 Alberta (last readable card) thru R-340 Ada (next readable card)
- R-526 Leo (last readable card) thru R-530 (next readable card other than one R-526 Peggy)
- S-000 Frederick (last readable card) and S-000 Gilbert (next readable card)
Several blank spaces on film between S-000 John Dunlop thru S-132 Dorothy suggest some records may not have been filmed; see Roll List for details. - S-165 Igino (last readable card) and S-165 Irene (next readable card)
- S-512 Melvin E. F. (last readable card) and S-512 Michele (next readable card)
- W-466 (entire soundex code missing) to W-524 Jack (next readable card)
Due to human error, some cards were out of order at the time they were filmed. Disarrangement at the beginning and ending of rolls is noted in the Roll List.
Forms Used
The manifest cards consist of several types of Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) forms. Both the front and reverse sides of each form were filmed. The most common forms are described below.
Form 548, 548-B, or Form I-448, Manifest, generally includes the person`s name, age, sex, marital status, place of birth, physical description, occupation, citizenship ("nationality"), race, ability to read and write and in what language, place of last permanent residence, port and date of arrival, destination, purpose for entering U.S., intention of becoming a U.S. citizen or of returning to country of previous residence, head tax status, and previous citizenships. It also includes the name and address of the alien`s nearest relative or friend in the country from which he or she came. If the alien had ever been in the U.S. in the past, the dates and places of such residence or visitation are indicated. Additional information may be recorded on the reverse side of the card if the alien appealed a decision deporting or barring him or her from entering the U.S. Subsequent re-entry by the alien may also be noted on the reverse side. Form 548 or I-448 is generally a card manifest. However, during some periods at some ports, the INS used an entire sheet of paper for the Form 548 manifest. Both sizes of manifests generally included the same information. The reverse side of the card manifest sometimes includes the alien`s photograph.General Remarks
Sample Form 548 Manifest Card
Form 657, Record of Registry, includes the following information about the alien as of the alien`s date of arrival: name; age; occupation; race or people; place of last residence before entry; and date, port, place, and means (ship, railway, etc.) of arrival in the U.S. This form also includes the following information about the alien as of the alien`s date of registry: name, age, occupation, physical description, place of residence, and place of birth. It also includes the alien`s photograph, date of approval of registry, certificate of registry number, district file number, and bureau file number. Some of the "Registry" records in this microfilm publication were recorded on Form 548 instead of Form 657.
Form I-189, Application for Resident Alien`s Border Crossing Identification Card, (BCC) includes the alien`s name, permanent U.S. address, date and place of birth, sex, marital status, occupation, ability to read and write, citizenship ("nationality"), physical description, and the date, place, and means of lawful entry into U.S. for permanent residence. It also includes the alien`s signature and fingerprint. Also included are the border crossing identification card number and its date of issuance.
Sample Form I-189 BCC Card (Front)
Sample Form I-189 BCC Card (Back)
Form I-407, Land Border Departure Record, records an alien`s abandonment of lawful domicile in the U.S. The form includes the person`s name; age; sex; race; marital status; occupation; ability to read and write; country of citizenship; country of residence before coming to the U.S.; place of last permanent residence in the U.S.; place intended permanent residence (U.S. or foreign city); alien registration number; port, date, and means (auto, railroad, etc.) of departure; date and port of last (most recent) arrival in the U.S.; and place, date, and certificate number of naturalization. For aliens, certain "facts of last recorded admission for permanent residence" were to be noted, including the person`s name and the port, date, and means (auto, railroad, etc.) of arrival. Other arrival dates and places or visa numbers may also be noted.
Form "Spl 187A," Primary Inspection Memorandum, which was used for alien arrivals, includes person`s name, sex, age, marital status, occupation, ability to read and write and in what language, head tax status, citizenship, race, place of last permanent residence, destination, citizenship before becoming a citizen of Canada, port and date of arrival, destination, purpose for entering U.S., intention of becoming a U.S. citizen, head tax status, and previous citizenships. It also includes the name and address of the friend or relative whom the alien intended to join, persons accompanying the alien, and the name and address of the alien`s nearest relative or friend in the country from which he or she came. If the alien had ever been in the U.S. in the past, the dates and places of such residence or visitation are indicated. Additional information may be recorded on the reverse side of the card if the alien appealed a decision barring him or her from entering the U.S.
The records were filmed by the INS in Oct. 1955-Apr. 1956 and transferred to the National Archives on microfilm. Although some of this film may be difficult to read, and some of the card records were not microfilmed at all, it is impossible to correct the situation since the INS destroyed the original records.
Part 4: Roll List
| Roll No. | Ending | Beginning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A-000 | A-263 Florence (part) |
| 2 | A-263 Florence (part) | A-416 Otto H. (part) |
| 3 | A-416 Otto H. (part) | A-456 |
| 4 | A-460 | A-536 Herluf |
| 5 | A-536 Herman | A-652 Edna Note: One A-652 Lawrence is mixed in with A-652 Edna. |
| 6 | A-652 Edward | B-200 George S. (part) |
| 7 | B-200 George S. (part) | B-230 Alexander |
| 8 | B-230 Alfred | B-253 Peter |
| 9 | B-253 Pietro | B-300 Elizabeth (part) |
| 10 | B-300 Elizabeth (part) | B-350 Henry A. (part) |
| 11 | B-350 Henry A. (part) | B-420 James Note 1: Second card on roll is Harry A. Batten (B-350 Harry). Note 2: Last card on roll is Jenny Balis (B-420 Jenny). |
| 12 | B-420 Jan | B-455 Gaetano |
| 13 | B-455 George | B-536 Beverly |
| 14 | B-536 Boris | B-620 Jennie |
| 15 | B-620 Johannes | B-625 Priscilla |
| 16 | B-625 Rachael | B-635 Jean (part) |
| 17 | B-635 Jean (part) | B-650 Quirino |
| 18 | B-650 R. | B-655 Martin J. |
| 19 | B-650 Martin John | C-160 Mary Alston |
| 20 | C-160 Mary Ann | C-240 |
| 21 | C-241 | C-400 Maria (part) |
| 22 | C-400 Maria (part) | C-452 Albert (part) |
| 23 | C-452 Albert (part) | C-500 James E. |
| 24 | Retakes: C-500 James F. | C-500 Lillian |
| 24 | Main Section: C-500 John | C-530 Arthur |
| 25 | C-530 Barbara | C-600 Susan (part) |
| 26 | C-600 Susan (part) | C-623 Konstantin |
| 27 | C-623 Kosta | C-640 John C. |
| 28 | C-640 John D. | D-000 |
| 29 | D-100 | D-140 William (part) |
| 30 | D-140 William (part) | D-240 Ivy |
| 31 | D-240 Jack | D-320 Guy |
| 32 | D-320 Hans | D-453 |
| 33 | D-454 | D-525 Margaret (part) |
| 34 | D-525 Margaret (part) | D-610 James |
| 35 | D-610 Jan | E-152 Gwynne |
| 36 | E-152 Hannah | E-400 |
| 37 | E-410 | E-660 Mijos |
| 38 | F-000 Burt | F-320 Lukasz Note: All records between E-660 Mijos and F-000 Burt were photographed as part of roll 38. However, due to camera operator error, these records are unreadable (too dark) due to over exposure. |
| 39 | F-320 Margaret | F-451 |
| 40 | F-452 | F-616 Israel |
| 41 | F-616 Jacob | F-630 |
| 42 | F-631 | F-655 Ruth |
| 43 | F-655 Sadie | G-240 |
| 44 | Retakes: G-241 | G-244 Giacomo |
| 44 | Main Section: G-242 Domencio | G-400 Szczepan |
| 45 | G-400 Teddy | G-435 Morris (part) |
| 46 | G-435 Morris (part) | G-600 Harry R. (part) |
| 47 | G-600 Harry R. (part) | G-622 Luther |
| 48 | G-622 Madeline | G-650 Johan |
| 49 | Retakes: G-666 Mary Ann | H-000 Bruce |
| 49 | Main Section: G-650 John | G-663 Yvonne |
| 50 | H-000 Carole | H-200 Priscilla |
| 51 | H-200 Rachel | H-256 Karl |
| 52 | H-256 Katherine | H-400 Coryl |
| 53 | H-400 Creta | H-436 Jennifer |
| 54 | H-436 Joan | H-525 Albert |
| 55 | H-525 Albert A. | H-552 Charles |
| 56 | H-552 Charlotte | H-625 Carrie (part) |
| 57 | H-625 Carrie (part) | H-652 William (part) |
| 58 | H-652 William (part) | J-130 Charles (part) |
| 59 | J-130 Charles (part) | J-520 Austin |
| 60 | J-520 Barbara | J-525 Grace |
| 61 | J-525 Graham | K-122 Andro (part) Note: Camera operator put several large blank gaps near end of real, especially in K-000 section, but, apparently, all records were filmed. |
| 62 | K-122 Andro (part) | K-266 David |
| 63 | K-266 Edward | K-435 Celine Note: All records between K-435 Celine and K-435 William H. were photographed as part of roll 63. However, due to camera operator error, these records are unreadable (too dark) due to over exposure. |
| 64 | K-436 | K-524 Georges |
| 65 | K-524 Gertrude | K-620 Lyle |
| 66 | K-620 Mable | L-000 Kent Note: First card on roll is Lillian M. Kirkwood (K-623). |
| 67 | L-000 Kerstin | L-160 Anton |
| 68 | L-160 Antonia | L-230 Rose (part) |
| 69 | L-230 Rose (part) | L-300 Evan |
| 70 | L-300 F. M. | L-365 Marie B. |
| 71 | L-365 Marie L. | L-520 Hung |
| 72 | L-520 Iain | L-532 Jusef |
| 73 | L-532 Karl | L-625 James (part) |
| 74 | L-625 James (part) | M-200 Duncan |
| 75 | M-200 Earl | M-215 Eliza |
| 76 | M-215 Ella | M-230 Higi |
| 77 | M-230 Hirsh | M-235 Peter (part) |
| 78 | M-235 Peter (part) | M-242 Harold (part) |
| 79 | M-242 Harold (part) | M-245 Mary A. (part) |
| 80 | M-245 Mary A. (part) | M-251 Ellen |
| 81 | M-251 Elsie | M-254 Cuthbert |
| 82 | M-254 Dallas | M-260 Lulu |
| 83 | M-260 Mabel | M-265 Evelyn |
| 84 | M-265 Ferdinand | M-324 Georgina |
| 85 | M-324 Gerald | M-400 Gwendolyn |
| 86 | M-400 Hannah | M-446 |
| 87 | M-450 | M-460 Joseph |
| 88 | M-460 Josephine | M-522 Dominic P. (part) |
| 89 | M-522 Dominic P. (part) | M-536 Giulio |
| 90 | M-536 Givanni | M-600 Harry (part) |
| 91 | M-600 Harry (part) | M-613 |
| 92 | M-614 | M-623 Cesidio |
| 93 | M-623 Charles | M-625 Violet |
| 94 | M-625 Virgil | M-635 Myrtle |
| 95 | M-635 Nan | N-120 John (part) |
| 96 | N-120 John (part) | N-240 Mary A. |
| 97 | N-240 Mary I. | N-355 Vera |
| 98 | N-355 William | N-564 |
| 99 | N-600 | O-235 |
| 100 | O-236 | O-422 Papi |
| 101 | O-422 Silvester | O-650 Sheila |
| 102 | O-650 Susan | P-200 Michal (part) |
| 103 | P-200 Michal (part) | P-252 Vladimir |
| 104 | P-252 Walter | P-352 James (part) |
| 105 | P-352 James (part) | P-362 Sarah (part) |
| 106 | P-362 Sarah (part) | P-420 Elefteria |
| 107 | P-420 Elinor | P-452 Nicola |
| 108 | P-452 Norah | P-525 Iole |
| 109 | P-525 Iris | P-620 Avrum |
| 110 | P-620 Barbara | P-624 |
| 111 | P-625 | P-634 Eduardo (part) |
| 112 | P-634 Eduardo (part) | Q-236 |
| 113 | Q-240 | R-125 Ada |
| 114 | R-125 Felix | R-160 Costanzo |
| 115 | R-160 Daniel | R-200 Byron |
| 116 | R-200 C. | R-200 Susanna |
| 117 | R-200 Susanna E. | R-240 |
| 118 | R-241 | R-260 |
| 119 | R-261 | R-300 James Note 1: First card is Lilly Rosner (R-256 Lilly). Note 2: Second card is Lillie Rosner (R-256 Lillie). |
| 120 | R-300 James B. | R-335 Note 1: The camera operator inserted a long blank space between R-324 Arthur and R-324 Martin; records may not have been filmed. Note 2: All records between R-336 Alberta and R-340 Ada were photographed as a part of roll 120. However, due to camera operator error, these records are unreadable (too dark) due to over exposure. |
| 121 | R-340 | R-423 Isabella L. |
| 122 | R-423 Jacques | R-525 Robert |
| 123 | R-525 Roberta | S-000 Frederick Note: The camera operator inserted a long blank space between R-526 Leo and R-530; only one card is between these: Peggy Ranger (R-526 Peggy). |
| 124 | S-000 Gilbert | S-134 Note 1: Long blank space at beginning of roll suggests the camera operator failed to film cards between S-000 Frederick and S-000 Gilbert, if any existed. Note 2: Blank spaces on film exist between: (1) S-000 John Dunlop and S-000 Mabel; (2) S-000 Margaret Wilson and S-000 Marie; (3) S-100 Lydia and S-1000 Margareta; (4) S-100 Nissan and S-100 Paul L.; (5) S-100 Ravha and S-100 Rene; (6) S-122 Ewald and S-122 John; (7) S-124 Yetta and S-125 Becky; and (8) S-132 Carrie and S-132 Dorothy |
| 125 | S-135 | S-160 Hersch |
| 126 | S-160 Herschel | S-200 Josephine (part) Note: Cards between S-165 Igino and S-165 Irene are unreadable. |
| 127 | S-200 Josephine (part) | S-252 Ludmila |
| 128 | S-252 Magdalene | S-315 Alfred H. |
| 129 | S-315 Alfred J. | S-324 Luella G. |
| 130 | S-324 Mabel | S-350 Wilhelmina |
| 131 | S-350 William | S-362 Frank (part) |
| 132 | S-362 Frank (part) | S-364 Martin |
| 133 | S-364 Mary | S-415 Janie |
| 134 | S-415 Jean | S-432 Juzef |
| 135 | S-432 Karl | S-500 Annie Note: See Roll 136 for additional persons named S-500 Annie. |
| 136 | S-500 Annie | S-520 Maxim Note 1: The first 30 cards are alphabetically disarranged; this segment includes Annie, Anton, and Antoinette, and others. Note 2: Due to camera operator error, cards between S-512 Melvin E. F. and S-512 Michele are unreadable (blurry). |
| 137 | S-520 May | S-530 Edward (part) |
| 138 | S-530 Edward (part) | S-530 Myrtle R. |
| 139 | S-530 Nancy | S-536 Azile J. |
| 140 | S-536 Balino | S-550 Mabel |
| 141 | S-550 Mable | S-600 Owen |
| 142 | S-600 Paschal | S-630 Grace |
| 143 | S-630 Grace E. | T-126 |
| 144 | T-130 | T-256 |
| 145 | T-260 | T-455 Matilda |
| 146 | T-455 Morris | T-512 Clair |
| 147 | T-512 Clara | T-520 Vivian L. |
| 148 | T-520 Wade | T-610 Evangeline |
| 149 | T-610 Filippo | T-636 |
| 150 | T-640 | V-126 Edith |
| 151 | V-126 John | V-416 |
| 152 | V-420 | V-536 Edith E. |
| 153 | V-536 Edith M. | W-123 |
| 154 | W-124 | W-241 |
| 155 | W-242 | W-300 Hyman |
| 156 | W-300 Ida | W-325 Justin |
| 157 | W-325 Karl | W-366 |
| 158 | W-400 | W-420 Virginia |
| 159 | W-420 Wallace | W-425 Milton |
| 160 | W-425 Nan | W-436 Mitchell |
| 161 | W-436 Molly | W-465 |
| 162 | W-524 Jack | W-623 Margaret Note: All records from W-466 to W-524 Jack were to have been photographed as part of roll 162. However, due to camera operator error, these were not filmed. |
| 163 | W-623 Margaret H. | Y-250 |
| 164 | Y-251 | Z-122 |
| 165 | Z-123 | Z-664 |
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