Immigration to the United States: Reliable Websites

Harvard University Library Open Collections Program

Ellis Island, now a 27.5-acre site located just minutes off the southern tip of Manhattan Island, New York, is likely to connect with more of the American population than any other spot in the country. It has been estimated that nearly half of all Americans today can trace their family history to at least one person who passed through the Port of New York at Ellis Island.

In 1970, the rediscovery of Chinese poetry carved into the deteriorating walls of the barracks saved the site from destruction and led to renewed interest in the Angel Island Immigration Station. Sparked by the discovery, Bay Area Asian Americans, spearheaded by Paul Chow, formed the Angel Island Immigration Station Historical Advisory Committee (AIISHAC). This organization studied how best to preserve the station for historical interpretation.

The First Measured Century project presents a unique look at American History, using data to show us where we've been and where we might be going.

Contains some great immigrant interviews.

The original purpose of the American Demographic History Chartbook was to present basic information about demographic trends and differentials in the United States in the 1790 to 2000 period, as revealed by the decennial census of population, and to do so using graphics designed for a general audience of persons interested in U.S. history.