My maternal and paternal grandparents emigrated from southern Italy to Canada during the period 1898 to 1916. I have verified that all four departed Italy and sailed across the Atlantic Ocean on separate voyages. They landed at Ellis Island, an immigration inspection station in Upper New York Bay. Opening in 1892, they were among the approximately twelve million who’d arrived prior to 1924.It closed in 1954.
Destination Canada: A Genealogical Guide to Immigration Records by Dave Obee
With respect to the photo of The America introducing this blog, it was the steamship on which my paternal grandmother, Caterina Andreoli departed Naples, Italy and sailed across the Atlantic Ocean. She arrived at Ellis Island on January 13, 1913, unmarried and aged twenty. I obtained the photo and a copy of the ship’s passenger manifest through Ellis Island records.
The fifteen chapters provide information on such subjects as Atlantic and Pacific ports of entry, Naturalization and Citizenship, Ellis Island and additional sources to consult. The timeline of migration to Canada offers researchers a historical context. The considerable illustrations include: ship posters, port pictures, passenger tickets, newspaper clippings, announcements, forms, schedules, etc. There is also a comprehensive bibliography and detailed index.
Pier 21: The Gateway that Changed Canada by Trudy Duivenvoorden Mitic and J. P. LeBlanc
Pier 21 was an immigration shed in Halifax, Nova Scotia that processed the one million plus immigrants who came to Canada from 1928 to 1971. The book details its origin and operations during the depression, war years, etc. The photographs and personal accounts are outstanding.
