Early in my genealogy research, I made a trip to the National Archives in Waltham, MA. Everything else was researched on the Internet or through Ancestry.com and requested by postal mail or fax.
I must credit an extremely helpful person at the National Archives with unlocking the key to many records of my grandfather as he found the immigration and naturalization records. I assumed my grandfather came into Boston as my grandmother did since they both moved to Providence, RI. As it turns out he arrived at Ellis Island in New York. Once I discovered this, the process became easier.
Here are the records I obtained:
- Irish birth certificate
- Passenger manifest entry for the ship coming to the US
- Irish and US census information
- Immigration and naturalization papers
- World War I draft registration
- Marriage certificate
- Death certificate
- Social Security record
