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You've got questions about discovering, preserving and celebrating your family history; our experts have the answers.
Alien Ancestors
A: Aliens were required to register their current addresses and places of
employment with the federal government between 1940 and about 1982. The
Alien Registration Act of 1940 required aliens to report their address
and employment and to report any change of address immediately. In 1952,
this changed to reporting their address annually. The address reporting
ended in the 1980s, and only the last or most recent address might remain on
file. For more background on alien registrations, read the Immigration
and Naturalization Service article "Why Isn't the Green Card
Green?" at www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/aboutins/history/articles/Green.htm. A
small staff at the INS Historical Reference Library will respond to
limited requests asking for a specific document. Questions about INS
holdings or whether the library holds desired materials may be directed
to the librarian at (202) 514-2837 or at 425 I Street NW, Room 1100,
Washington, DC 20536. For more information about the INS Historical
Reference Library, visit
www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/aboutins/history/index.htm.
—Sharon DeBartolo Carmack
Sharon DeBartolo Carmack is the author of Finding Your Ellis Island Ancestors (Family Tree Books), due out in spring 2005. A certified genealogist specializing in writing narrative family histories, Carmack is the author of 10 books and numerous articles and columns. She's executive editor of Betterway Genealogy Books, a consulting editor for Newbury Street Press, a contract advisor for the National Writers Union and a contributing editor of Family Tree Magazine. Learn more about her at www.sharoncarmack.com and about her books at FamilyTreeMagazine.com.
Pose your questions to our family history experts.
Q: How do I find information about my ancestors who never
became naturalized citizens? My grandparents were required to
register annually as aliens. The registration forms were available
at our local post office. Have these records been stored anywhere and
are copies available?
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