Texas, Eagle Pass Arrival Manifests and Indexes - FamilySearch Historical Records

Eagle Pass

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Texas, Eagle Pass Arrival Manifests and Indexes, 1905-1954 CID1916041 {{{CID2}}} {{{CID3}}} {{{CID4}}} {{{CID5}}} {{{CID6}}} {{{CID7}}} {{{CID8}}} {{{CID9}}}
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Eagle Pass,Maverick,Texas, United States

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Record Description
Record Type	Arrival Manifests and Card Index
Record Group	RG 85: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service
Collection years	1905-1954
Microfilm Publication	M1755. Permanent and Statistical Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Eagle Pass, Texas, June 1905-June 1953. 30 rolls.
	M2040. Index to Manifests of Permanent and Statistical Arrivals at Eagle Pass, Texas, December 1, 1929-June 1953. Rolls 27-30 rolls.
Arrangement	Chronological
National Archives Identifier	4529417 4530033 414
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Archive
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Why Should I Look at This Collection?[edit | edit source]

By searching the database and images in this collection you may learn new details about your family members who entered the United States from Mexico at the Eagle Pass customshouse located at the southern border of Texas between 19051–1953. Details you learn such as their birth place or age when they entered the United States will enrich your family history and provide you with leads to continue your FamilySearch. You may wish to use the records in this collection in conjunction with United States Border Crossings from Mexico to United States. And although most arrivals are from Mexico, there are also Syrians, Japanese, and Europeans who chose to enter the United States through Mexico.

What is in This Collection?[edit | edit source]

The Texas, Eagle Pass Arrival Manifests and Indexes, 1905–1954 correlates with two National Archives and Records Administration(NARA) microfilm publications: Indexes to Manifests of Permanent and Statistical Arrivals at Eagle Pass, Texas, December 1, 1929 - June 1953., M2040 and Permanent and Statistical Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Eagle Pass, Texas, June 1905 - June 1953., M1755. Microfilm publication M2040 is index cards for the years 1929–1953 for the Card Manifests on microfilm publication M1755. The index cards are arranged alphabetically and contain information such as name, age, date of crossing and manifest card number to assist in locating a card manifest in microfilm publication M1755. The card manifests located on microfilm publication M1755 cover the years 1905–1953 and are arrange chronologically. These microfilm publications are part of Record Group Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service 85: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

General Information about Land Border Crossings and Card Manifests

The United States Customs Service (Customs) collected records on immigration through collection districts and regional customhouses. Customs required that the captain of a ship arriving at a United States port from a foreign port to submit a list of passengers to the collector of customs. Early records originated at the customshouses and were for statistical purposes only. On 3 August 1882, the United States Congress passed the first law regulating immigration. From 1882–1891, the Secretary of the Treasury had general supervision over immigration and the Office of Superintendent of Immigration was established in the department of the Treasury. This office was later designated a bureau and eventually became the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization, after naturalization functions were added to the bureau, and then Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS). Treatment of land borders has been different as keeping statistics on Unites States land borders was not required by early immigration acts. Land border records began being kept on the Canadian border in 1895 and on the Mexican border in 1906. When records began being kept for land borders, immigration authorities found that it was impractical to collect arrival information on lists as it was done for ship passengers; therefore, immigration authorities started using card manifests for each person. These cards contained the same information as ship passenger lists such as name, age, sex, marital status, birth place, physical description, occupation, citizenship or nationality, reason for entry, place of last permanent residency, literacy and language of literacy, and whether the immigrant intended on become a citizen of the United States or returning to their country of origin.

Additional records and/or images may be added to this collection in the future.

Index and Image Visibility[edit | edit source]

Whenever possible FamilySearch makes images and indexes available for all users. However, rights to view these data are limited by contract and subject to change. Because of this there may be limitations on where and how images and indexes are available or who can see them. Please be aware some collections consist only of partial information indexed from the records and do not contain any images. For additional information about image restrictions see Restrictions for Viewing Images in FamilySearch Historical Record Collections.

To Browse This Collection[edit | edit source]

You can browse through images in this collection using the waypoints on the Collection Browse Page for Texas, Eagle Pass Arrival Manifests and Indexes, 1905-1954.

What Can These Records Tell Me?[edit | edit source]

The following information may be found in these records:

Index cards

Name
Citizenship
Age
Sex
Arrival date
Manifest Number

Manifest cards

Name
Age
Sex
Marital status
Birthplace
Physical description
Occupation
Citizenship or nationality
Reason for entry
Date of entry
Place of last permanent residency
Literacy and language literate in
Intent of becoming citizen or returning to country of origin

Collection Contents[edit | edit source]

Sample Images[edit | edit source]

Texas, Eagle Pass Arrival Manifests and Indexes Examples
Index
1905 Arrival Manifest
1929 Arrival Manifest

How Do I Search This Collection?[edit | edit source]

You can search the index, view the images or both. Before searching this collection, it is helpful to know:

The name of the person you are looking for
The approximate date of immigration

Search the Index[edit | edit source]

Search by name on the Collection Details Page.

Fill in the search boxes in the Search Collection section with the information you know
Click Search to show possible matches

View the Images[edit | edit source]

View images in this collection by visiting the Collection Browse Page:

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How Do I Analyze the Results?[edit | edit source]

Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

What Do I Do Next?[edit | edit source]

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?[edit | edit source]

Add any new information to your records
Make sure to fully transcribe and cite the record entry for future reference
Use the information found in the record to find other immigration records
Use the record to learn your ancestor’s foreign and “Americanized” names, if they were different
Use the record to learn the place of origin and find their church and vital records such as birth, baptism, and marriage records
Use the information found in the record to find land and probate records
Use the record to see if other family members who may have immigrated with the person you are looking for are listed and have additional information or leads; you may also find additional information on new family members in censuses
Repeat this process with additional family members found, to find more generations of the family

I Can’t Find the Person I’m Looking For, What Now?[edit | edit source]

Indexes and transcriptions may not include all the data found in the original records. You could get a copy of the original record from the Collection Browse Page
If your ancestor does not have a common name, collect entries for every person who has the same surname. This list can help you find possible relatives
If you cannot locate your ancestor at the customhouse where you believed your ancestor crossed into the United States, then try searching records of a nearby border crossing
Try different spellings of your ancestor’s name
Remember that sometimes individuals went by nicknames or alternated between using first and middle names. Try searching for these names as well

Research Helps[edit | edit source]

The following articles will help you research your family in the state of Texas.

Other FamilySearch Collections[edit | edit source]

These collections may have additional materials to help you with your research.

FamilySearch Catalog[edit | edit source]

FamilySearch Historical Records[edit | edit source]

United States Border Crossings from Mexico to United States, 1903-1957

Citing This Collection[edit | edit source]

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Collection Citation:
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