Events - Event View

Whether your family put down roots in the United States or Canada, many journeys to the New World began in New York. In this session, Alec gives genealogists a practical overview of U.S. arrival records, from the sparse documents of the 1700s to today's digital Customs Border and Protection (CBP) databases, with a focus on the rich records of the early 1900s. 

Learn how these records were created, used, and preserved, and how to trace arrivals by sea, land, and air.  Plus: lesser-known "remedial" arrival records that can fill gaps when original immigration records are missing.


Alec Ferretti is a New-York-City-based professional genealogist and records advocate, best known as a board member and director with Reclaim the Records. He specializes in the genealogy of 20th-century immigrants to the United States, with particular emphasis on New York arrival, immigration, and vital records, and regularly lectures on how to navigate and leverage these sources.

Through his “Save the Records” advocacy work, Alec uses public records and freedom-of-information laws to expand access to New York and federal collections that are crucial for immigration and family history research.