Origins Unlocked

Welcome to Origins Unlocked!

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A summary of what to expect in the first lesson of this course

Setting the stage for the course with a video on the history and process of naturalization

A summary of what to expect in Lesson 2 before we dive in

This video lesson will show you examples of naturalization records through different decades and genealogical gems they hold

A bonus lesson on naturalization index cards and how to utilize them in your research

An introduction to the “FAN Club” and its importance when researching immigrant ancestors

Exercises to help you navigate the ever-changing borders of the 19th and 20th century

Put your detective skills to the test with this interactiive homework

A summary of what to expect in Lesson 3

A video lesson on how to find naturalization records using clues in the census

A closer look at post-enumeration recording

An interactive case study challenging you to find an elusive naturalization record

Part 2 of the case study, diving deeper into how we might find this immigrant’s naturalization record

Access a research template to help you navigate your own ancestors’ census information and find their naturalization records

A summary of what to expect as you move on from naturalization records and onto immigration records

A video lesson dispelling common myths about the U.S. immigration process

Matching common U.S. ports of entry to their popularity in history, and what they say about the immigrants who passed through them

Was your ancestor detained? How to use these hidden pages within passenger lists in your research

An overview of the most basic strategy to employ when searching for naturalization records and why you might use it

How to narrow your search for passenger lists when you know some specific details

Best practices, tips, and tricks for searching on the Ellis Island database

The best strategy to ensure you find your ancestor on a passenger list every time: reverse searching utilizing their naturalization record

In lesson 6, we look at the fun, interactive ways you can use passenger lists to further your research

How to use this often overlooked question on passenger lists to further your research

How to utilize passenger lists to build your family tree

A case study to help you visualize the power of passenger lists

Deep diving into the clues you found in Part I of the case study, and using them to build a Spezia family tree

How to recreate the Spezia case study exercise with your own family tree