Finding Your Family History
By Robert Cox MVHA Vice President
For those of us whose ancestors arrived in America since 1900 , immigration records document the key events on their way to becoming American citizens . The most important immigration documents include naturalization records and passenger lists .
If you don ’ t already have copies of these documents in your family archives , start by searching for information at www . familysearch . org for free . Census documents often include the country of birth and nationality of the person enumerated . Before World War I , many European countries were multi-ethnic . So , my mother ’ s parents were born in Austria-Hungary , but were ethnic Slovaks . This is important because many of these multi-ethnic countries have since split up into multiple countries along ethnic lines . The records for my mother ’ s ancestors are now in the archives of Slovakia .
Not all immigrants to the USA decided to become citizens . Some came to America just to improve their �inancial situation , and then return home . Some grew homesick and left . Others were satis�ied just to earn a good living , and didn ’ t want to go through the citizenship process , especially if they lacked English language skills . Others may have not arrived legally . So , you won ’ t necessarily �ind naturalization documents for your immigrant ancestors . Furthermore , before 1922 , most women were not naturalized independently . Their naturalization status was that of their husband .
When they do exist , naturalization documents can provide helpful information , like the person ’ s place of birth and dates of immigration . For those who arrived by ship , the name of the ship and the ports of exit and entry of the voyage are usually included . Naturalization records are generally available at the local courthouse where the immigrant was naturalized or through the National Archives . If your ancestor arrived by ship , you can also request the ship ’ s passenger list from the National Archives .
Mtn . View Family History Fun Fact !
Ellen Kamei and her Three Kenzos
Mountain View Council Member and Former Mayor Ellen Kamei ’ s family history was highlighted by three notable Kenzos . Her grandfather Kenzo Kamei was born in Vacaville , CA . He met the love of his life Kikaso Nishimoto , while working at a �lower nursery in Sunnyvale . Kenzo and Kikaso were later relocated
Ellen Kamei to Japanese interment camp in
Heart Mountain , WY , where they married . After World War II ended , they returned to the Bay Area , where Kenzo founded the Kamei Nursery in Mountain View . Part of the land on which the nursery was situated is now the location of the Mountain View street Kenzo Court . Most recently , Ellen became the mother of her son Kenzo , named after her grandfather . The name Kenzo is of Japanese origin and means “ healthy ” and “ wise ”.
Kenzo Kamei ( left ) and his great grandson Kenzo ( right ), named in his honor .
One surprising fact is that some of our native American ( Indian ) ancestors also have naturalization documents . This is because in the early USA , native Americans were considered citizens of their national tribe , and not of the USA . Just as upon becoming citizens , European citizens were required to renounce loyalty to their European monarchs , native Americans renounced loyalty to their local chiefs .
In my next column , I will write about birth , death , and marriage records .
Kenzo Court is a street on the site of the former Kamei family fl ower nursery
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