National Archives to Get Immigration Files

Published: June 4, 2009

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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Historical government files that could reveal the untold stories of millions of immigrants, including scores of Jews who fled Europe after World War II and Chinese who came to the U.S. as part of the diaspora, are going to the National Archives instead of being destroyed.

The “alien registration files” include interview transcripts, health records, photographs, marriage licenses, and recordings. The first batch will cover 135,000 people born before 1909 who arrived after 1900, including painter Salvador Dali and singer Maurice Chevalier. Those files are expected to be available to the public starting next summer. "These will allow people to trace back to the place of birth where their family actually originated,” says a deputy director at the Archives.

Read more at the Los Angeles Times.

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