United States, Land of Immigration and Genealogy Passion

The United States, a country tied to immigration, is a goldmine for genealogy with Ellis Island and the role of Mormons.

United States, a Country Tied to Immigration

We often forget, especially in today's climate, but the very existence of the United States is tied to immigration, whether through colonization in the 17th century or the gold rush in 1848. According to a study, 98% of Americans have an immigrant ancestor. Indeed, the United States has experienced 7 major waves of immigration: from 1660 to 1790, with the arrival of African slaves and Europeans fleeing religious persecution; from 1790 to 1820; from 1820 to 1880 with the industrial revolution; from 1880-1930, driven by the pursuit of the American Dream; 1930-1965; 1965-2000 with a massive influx of Hispanics and Asians, and finally 2000-2015. 

It is important to note that starting in 1820, American authorities began keeping records of immigrant entries, but returns were only recorded starting in 1908. If your ancestors migrated to the USA between 1892 and 1954, they surely passed through Ellis Island, the federal immigration station. Over 100 million Americans (1/3 of the population) descend from someone who transited through Ellis Island.

This is better understood when looking at the numbers: over 12 million people passed through.

Ellis Island, a Genealogy Goldmine

Ellis Island Records are a real goldmine for all genealogists, as they contain the first name and last name of each passenger, their gender, age, date of arrival, and port of origin. However, due to the enormous number of arrivals, some lists were written quickly, and town or family names were often misspelled or even distorted. Migrants showing signs of illness were sent back home or quarantined on the island. The others were granted the right to enter the USA and attempt the "American Dream."

Before 1892, Castle Garden served as the immigration center, and most of its records have also been preserved.

Genealogy, an International Passion

Genealogy is not just a French passion: Americans are also passionate about it. After all, who hasn't heard of the Mormons and the Granite Mountain Records Vault, where they store billions of genealogical records?

The Mormons, or rather The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is a Christian church founded in 1830 by Joseph Smith. They aim to baptize all their ancestors, and since all human beings could potentially be linked, they try to gather all existing archives, with the goal of baptizing the dead, who, in the spirit world, could accept or reject the sacraments performed by their descendants. 

The United States is therefore a country where genealogy holds an important place, both in a theological aspect like with the Mormons and through its history tied to immigration.