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.

Do your own research:

District of Columbia: National Archives Building, 700 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20408-0001. Phone: 202-501-5400.

New York: NARA Northeast Region (New York City, NY), 1 Bowling Green, 3rd Floor, New York NY 10004. 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.

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.

Purchase this microfilm, see How to Obtain Microfilm

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.

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