MyHeritage is home to a vast and rapidly growing treasure trove of historical record collections to enrich your genealogical research. Today I’d like to shine a spotlight on one particularly fascinating collection: United States, Border Crossings from Canada 1895–1956.
Search United States, Border Crossings from Canada 1895–1956
This record collection boasts nearly 12.5 million names and offers a plethora of valuable details for genealogists. What’s intriguing about it is that it doesn’t solely capture individuals emigrating from Canada to the United States: it also documents American citizens visiting Canada, tourists, individuals on work-related trips, and much more. Your ancestor’s name might pop up for reasons you never expected!
Sample record: Teresina Di Bartolo
Let’s take a look at a sample record for a woman named Teresina Di Bartolo.
Looking through the indexed information, you can find:
- Complete birth details, with date and place: October 28th, 1919, Nocera Terinese, Italy.
- Entry details: Teresina arrived in the United States on April 17th, 1952, heading to Saint Albans, Vermont.
- Last known residence: Canada.
- Key relatives: Mother, Angela DeBartolo in Quebec and relative, Domenico Aversa in Maryland.
But the treasures don’t end there. By viewing the original record image, you can discover even more:
- Passport details, including the issue place and expiration date.
- Prior travel history: Teresina arrived in Quebec in 1949.
- Landing details in the United States, including her intention to reside permanently.
- Occupation: Teresina worked in the sewing industry
- Literacy status: Teresina knew how to read and write
- Languages spoken: Italian
- Nationality: Italian
- Physical appearance: Teresina was 5’2″ and had a medium complexion, dark brown hair, and brown eyes.
- A personal signature – a unique and personal touch!
Another example: Wm Chas Crawford
Here is another example found for Wm Chas Crawford, originally from Glasgow.
24-year-old Crawford, a plasterer by profession, was heading to Minneapolis, Minnesota. The record even lists ‘Missus Lindsay’ as his nearest friend or relative. Such documents are not just for those entering the U.S. but can provide insights into individuals who may have visited Canada and returned or those with other migration stories.
Why is this collection important?
Border crossing records like these provide significant leads for further research, from pinpointing naturalization records to tracing alien registration files. They’re a crucial first step for anyone tracing the migration patterns of their ancestors or seeking to flesh out their family story with vivid details.
The United States, Border Crossings from Canada 1895–1956 is a gold mine of information. Whether you’re seeking to understand your family’s migratory routes or looking to add more color to your ancestor’s profile, this collection is a must-visit.
Search United States, Border Crossings from Canada 1895–1956
This article was adapted from a segment of a Facebook Live session with Myko Clelland on August 1, 2023, as part of our ¨What’s New in the MyHeritage Historical Record Collections” series. Every two weeks, our Directors of Content Myko Clelland and Mike Mansfield bring you the latest information on historical record collections recently added to MyHeritage and highlight interesting collections you may not have heard of. Join us on our Facebook page on the first and third Tuesday of every month to catch these sessions live!
