They Came in Ships: A Guide to Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor's Ship (Paperback)

by John Philip Colletta (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Irvine, a teacher in British Columbia, has teamed up with one of the leading genealogy publishers to give us a fine handbook for English genealogy research. Irvine focuses on how to use the many unpublished resources available in North America at the Family History Library (FHL) in Salt Lake City, many FHL branch libraries, and FH Centers located in local Latter Day Saints churches and other larger libraries. In addition, Irvine outlines research in English repositories. Her nuts-and-bolts approach to relatively accessible material sets this book apart from other handbooks. Essential for the institutional as well as the home market. Colletta's work, revised since it was first published in 1989, provides a helpful discussion of biographical and genealogical information and other migration details that may be found in passenger lists. Four information-filled chapters provide help on acquiring the information needed to search for passenger lists. The annotated bibliography is excellent, though the book still lacks an index. Researchers in the ship passenger list and immigration field should read this book, along with Michael H. Tepper's American Passenger Arrival Records (Genealogical Pubs., 1988). Essential.
- Judith P. Reid, Lib. of Congress
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"If you are, as I was, baffled by the maze of microfilm and sources involved in trying to track down your ancestors' ships lists, you need this book!! I read this book cover to cover twice, then tackled the library, and finally accomplished something! I recommend it VERY highly." --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 108 pages
• Publisher: Ancestry.com; Revised edition (March 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0916489426
• ISBN-13: 978-0916489427
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #877,247 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 95 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable Genealogical Tool!, August 23, 1999

By A Customer

If you are, as I was, baffled by the maze of microfilm and sources involved in trying to track down your ancestors' ships lists, you need this book!! The author very clearly explains the how the films are indexed, the exceptions to the rules, etc. Perhaps the most useful aspect of this book is the way the author walks you through various examples of how to take whatever information you have about your ancestor and how to use the indexes to track down where to start searching for your ancestor's ship. I read this book cover to cover twice, then tackled the library, and finally accomplished something! I recommend it VERY highly.

73 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars They Came In Ships, April 24, 2000

By A Customer

There is an unbelievable amount of information packed into this book and it is organized in a way that works for both the experienced and new genealogist. I had almost given up finding my immigrant ancestors in several lines I'm researching until I discovered this gem. By following the step by step information given here, I was able to find them all! Don't overlook the bibliography. The information in it alone is well worth the price of the book. Thank you, Dr. Colletta!

34 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Information, July 29, 2000

By A Customer

This is an excellent book for find passenger lists that are not at the National Archives.A must have for finding them.