Immigration
If you don't know where your family immigrated to the United States, first, check their census records. That will tell you where they were born and the probable year they immigrated.
Once you have the immigration year and location, try searching for your ancestor's arrival information on:
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Ellis Island - 1892- 1954. Requires free subscription.
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Castle Garden 1820 through 1892
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FamilySearch - Free, and a useful search for all sorts of records, including Petitions for Naturalization which can give you more information. Requires free subscription.
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Steve Morse - If you aren't sure where your family came from, check here. They could have come through Boston, or another port, and there are a variety of searches available on this site including Ellis Island and Castle Garden.
Genealogy and Local History Resources
Need personal assistance?
Our librarians are here to help you! Go beyond general assistance and get in-depth instruction from a reference librarian on how to use the Bloomfield Public Library's electronic catalog, digital resources and databases. Contact us to schedule a 30-minute one-on-one session.
Did you know?
The Museum of the Bloomfield Historical Society is located on the 3rd floor of the Children's Library. Find out more about them at bloomfieldhistorical.org.