Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Passenger Lists, 1883-1945

What is in This Collection?

These collections include the following:

• Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Passenger Lists, 1800-1882 (NARA M425)
• Pennsylvania, Philadelphia Passenger Lists, 1883-1945 (NARA T840)

The passenger lists are digital copies of the original records. The earliest records are handwritten pages. Later records are usually handwritten on pre-printed pages. The records are arranged by the date of entry into port. Passenger arrivals records do not exist from July 1, 1948 to November 30, 1954. Passenger arrival lists known as customs manifests date back to 1820. Congressional action in 1891 resulted in federal immigration officials recording the immigrants’ arrival. Arrival lists was used by legal authorities to gather personal information about immigrants prior to the person being allowed to live in the United States. The information was supplied by the immigrant or a traveling companion (usually a family member). Incorrect information was occasionally given, or mistakes may have been made when the clerk guessed at the spelling of foreign names.

Related National Archives Collections

• Manifests of Outward Bound Alien Passengers, 1907–1948
• Baggage Entries, December 1799–December 1856
• Passenger Lists of Vessels, 1812–1814 "...lists of persons authorized to sail from the United States." "...Most of the lists are for the port of Philadelphia"

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

To Browse This Collection

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What Can These Records Tell Me?

The following information may be found in these records:

Collection Content

Sample Images

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  Passenger Manifest

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  Passenger List

Inventory

• For an inventory of all the films/digital folders in this collection see Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Passenger Lists - Inventory