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Genealogy Research with Maps: FOR EXAMPLE

A guide to using maps available at The New York Public Library and elsewhere for genealogy research.

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Maps, along with photographs, and other contemporary historical source materials can be used to illustrate oral histories and family history narratives that engage with the reader.

For instance, let’s take an oral history from Passages to America : oral histories of child immigrants from Ellis Island and Angel Island by Emmy E. Werner and illustrate a fascinating story with maps, photographs, and other documents available from collections at the New York Public Library.

PASSAGES TO AMERICA: MARION DA RONCA'S STORY

The image is a detailed section of a vintage topographic map. It showcases a region with various geographical features such as mountains, valleys, and waterways. The terrain is indicated by contour lines and shaded areas, with colors ranging from light brown to beige, indicating different elevations. Blue lines represent rivers or streams winding through the landscape. Several place names are marked on the map, including "Pozza," "Vigo di Fassa," "Soraga," and "Perra Campestrin." There are numerical markings indicating elevations, such as "1515," "1522," "1314," "2414," and "2641." Various symbols, such as small triangles, denote specific landmarks or points of interest.

Vigo di Fasso: Trient 29:46, K.u.K. Militärgeographisches Institut, 1918 [detail] 

In 1920, Marion Da Ronca, age 9, came to the United States from Vigo in Northern Italy with his mother Regina, 50, and his older sisters, Giovanna, 23, and Lina, 15. They were going to stay with Marion's oldest sister, Lena Gotta, who lived with her husband and their children in Iron Belt, Wisconsin.

The journey took approximately 15 days by horse-drawn carriage, four steam trains, two ferries, one ocean liner, and at least one bus. Marion described his journey in an interview conducted in 1992:

"The only thing we packed was our clothes. That’s all there was to pack. We travelled ten to fifteen miles on a horse-drawn carriage, then boarded a train to Padua [...] in Italy.[...] Then we boarded a train to Cherbourg, France."

The image is a vintage map depicting a coastal city layout with a prominent harbor area, identified by structures and water bodies. The map features a mix of text and graphical elements, including streets, buildings, and water areas. A large red compass-like symbol is prominent in the upper left portion. The central section shows the 'Gare Maritime' adjacent to a body of water labeled 'Darse Transatlantique.' Numerous small buildings and labels fill the detailed urban grid. The top left corner features a mapped coastline with dotted lines indicating water boundaries. The map is accented with red grid lines and various labels marking key locations.

Town Plan of Cherbourg / U.S. Army Map Service, 1943 [detail] 

The map included here, drawn by the U.S. Army Map Service in 1943, gives the viewer an idea what Cherbourg Harbour may have been like in 1921. The railroad line runs right down to the quayside, where ferry boats are waiting to take passengers to their steamship.  Marion describes arriving...

"The following evening the tide came in and they ferried us to the boat."

The image depicts a large, early 20th-century ocean liner docked at a port. The ship features a dark hull with white upper decks. Two distinct smokestacks rise prominently from the center of the vessel, contributing to the ship's grandeur. Several tall masts and rigging are visible, extending high above the ship. The ship's bow and stern are massive and prominent. A small tugboat is positioned alongside the ocean liner, assisting with navigation near the harbor. The background consists of indistinct buildings and structures, under a hazy sky that suggests an overcast day.

R.M.S. Adriatic / NYPL Picture Collection

That boat was the RMS Adriatic, a steam passenger ship of the White Star Line, launched in 1907. It sailed from Southampton, England, to New York City, picking up passengers up at Cherbourg. The ship weighed 25,000 tons and held 2,825 passengers—1,900 in steerage, where Marion and his family would have been.

The image depicts a crowded ship with multiple decks filled with passengers. People are standing along the railings, many looking outward, possibly waving or observing something off-frame. The ship's structure is large, with visible lifeboats secured on the upper deck. The vessel’s hull is dark, contrasting with the lighter superstructure. The scene appears to be set in an earlier era, given the attire of the people, which consists of coats, hats, and some formal wear. Smoke is billowing from the ship's funnels in the background, indicating the ship might be underway or preparing to depart.

A 1921 deck scene on the R.M.S. Adriatic / NYPL Picture Collection

The NYPL Picture Collection includes thousands of images of sail and steam passenger ships not available online, including photographs of the R.M.S. Adriatic shown in this post. Marion and his family are described in the manifest below: note that Marion's mother is traveling under her maiden name, Martini, something married Italian women commonly did at this time.

The image shows a black and white section of a historical document, possibly a ledger or registry. The document is organized into horizontal rows and vertical columns, with hand-printed and handwritten text. Each row includes a checkmark or a series of checkmarks, text entries, and numerical values indicating data entries such as names, numbers, and notations. There are visible stamps "UNDER 16" on two entries. The handwritten notes and checkmarks create a layered, textured look, overlapping the printed grid lines. The handwriting varies in legibility, and some entries are crossed out or smudged, contributing to a cluttered appearance.

New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1820-1957: Regina Martini, June 25, 1920 (Ancestry Library Edition)

Marion describes the journey, his family suffering from seasickness, venturing out onto the third-class deck, and watching dolphins swim behind the ship. After nine days, the R.M.S. Adriatic arrives at the Port of New York.

The image depicts the interior of a ship's cabin featuring multiple metal bunk beds. The room is lit by natural light coming through small round porthole windows on either side. The bunk beds are arranged in rows, with two levels of sleeping areas on each structure. Each bed is made with patterned bedding. The metal frames of the beds appear sturdy and industrial, reflective of the early 20th century style. The overall tone of the image is sepia, giving it a vintage appearance.

Third Class Cabin / NYPL Picture Collection

The image depicts the Statue of Liberty at night. The statue is illuminated against a dark sky, highlighting its features in white. The torch held high in the statue's right hand is glowing brightly, creating a focal point. The statue stands on a square pedestal, also lit, revealing its detailed stonework. There is a sharp contrast between the brightly lit statue and the surrounding darkness.

Statue of Liberty / Brown Brothers (NYPL Digital Collections)

"As we entered the harbor in New York, I saw the Statue of Liberty. We stood on the side of the ship, and my mother told me, 'Remember her. For years to come, you will be thinking about her." And she was right. Everyone stood up and took their hats off when she went by."

The image is a vintage map section showing a detailed layout of a waterfront area. Numerous docks are labeled with shipping line names such as "Am. Leyland," "Red Star," "White Star," "Atlantic Transport," and "Cunard Line." Streets are indicated, with "Eleventh Ave" and "Tenth Ave" clearly marked, running parallel to the docks. The map includes numerical indicators next to the docks and streets. The "C.R.R. of N.J." ferry route is shown by dashed lines curving through the area. A railroad ferry path is also depicted, leading to "W. 23rd St." and curving towards numbered piers.

Hagstrom's Map of lower New York City, House Number and Subway Guide, 1920 (NYPL Digital Collections)

Many researchers wonder how their ancestors got to and from the immigration receiving station at Ellis Island once they had arrived at the Port of New York. Did steamships dock at Ellis Island? Or did ferries take immigrants there? How did immigrants get back to the mainland? And then on to their final destination?  

Hagstrom's Map of Lower New York City, House Number and Subway Guide of 1920 identifies the names of the piers where the ocean liners of the various steamship companies docked, carriers like the White Star Line, Cunard, and the Hamburg-Amerikka Line (as shown). It also describes the routes of the ferries to and from Ellis Island (as shown), the locations of subways and trams that would take immigrants to relatives or to their new homes in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or New Jersey, for instance, and the location of railroad stations that would have transported passengers all over the United States.

The image is a vintage map showing part of New York Harbor, including Manhattan and Ellis Island. It features detailed labels and outlines of ferry routes, streets, docks, and points of interest. The map is hand-drawn with a sepia tone, giving it an aged appearance. Manhattan is depicted on the right side, with streets such as Broadway and West Street clearly labeled. Various piers and docks are labeled along the waterfront, including locations like Colgate Pier and Penn R.R. Dotted lines indicate ferry routes, including the “C.R.R. of N.J. Ferry to Liberty Street” and “Government Ferry to Ellis Island.” A compass rose points northward in the center of the map. Ellis Island is illustrated in the lower left corner, marked with its name.

Hagstrom's Map of lower New York City, House Number and Subway Guide, 1920: showing Ellis Island and Ellis Island Ferry route

Marion's story continues…

Immigrant Station, Ellis Island, with ferry docked at adjacent pier. Edwin Levik, 1902-1913 (NYPL Digital Collections) The image depicts a historic waterfront scene featuring a large building and boats. The building is an ornate, multi-story structure with a symmetrical facade, featuring multiple arched windows and two prominent towers with dome-shaped roofs. The building appears to be constructed from brick and stone, with intricate architectural details. In front of the building, there is a dock or pier extending over the water, lined with a series of white posts and barriers. Moored alongside the dock is a large, multi-decked steamboat with a white hull and several smokestacks. The water is calm, reflecting the structures partially.

Immigrant Station, Ellis Island, with ferry docked at adjacent pier (NYPL Digital Collections)

"And the tugboats were waiting for us. They pulled alongside, and they pushed the boat right into port. Then they ferried us to Ellis Island."

The image depicts an indoor space with metal railings forming a queue or waiting area. A uniformed officer faces a woman holding papers, likely engaged in a conversation or check. Three children flank the woman, two boys and a girl, dressed in modest clothing. The environment suggests an official setting, possibly a checkpoint or registration area, with bare walls and minimal decor. In the background, other individuals are visible, interacting in a similar setting. The lighting is natural, coming through windows, creating a contrast with the shadowed areas.

Immigrants undergoing medical examination (NYPL Digital Collections)

"We were all examined, and then we stayed overnight. We had four bunk beds. There was one for my mother, one for me, then one for each of my sisters, all in one room. And they were hard, covered with just a couple of blankets."

The image depicts a large, neatly arranged dining hall with several long wooden tables extending in parallel rows. On these tables are evenly spaced white plates and bowls, each accompanied by a spoon. The room is spacious and well-lit, with an array of arched windows featuring a diamond pattern on the far and right walls, allowing natural light to flood in. The ceiling is high and supported by evenly spaced square columns. A few individuals in white coats, likely workers preparing the hall, can be seen standing in the background. The flooring appears to have a tiled pattern, adding texture to the space. The overall tone of the photograph is sepia, lending it a vintage appearance.

Dining hall on Ellis Island (NYPL Digital Collections)

"We ate in the big dining room. My mother held me by the hand all the while. She never let go as long as we were there."

"When we left Ellis Island, we went back to the ferry and then took a train out from New York City to Detroit."

The image depicts the interior of a large train station, characterized by its grand architectural design. The ceiling is an intricate display of iron and glass arches, allowing natural light to illuminate the space. Massive iron columns support these arches, showcasing detailed latticework. The floor is spacious and open, with groups of people gathering near entrances and ticket counters. In the foreground, a railing and signs are visible, adding to the station's structural elements. The atmosphere conveys a combination of grandeur and functionality typical of early 20th-century architecture.

Penn. Station, Interior / Berenice Abbott (NYPL Digital Collections)

"We changed trains in Detroit and went to Chicago. In Chicago, they bussed us around the lake to the Northwestern Station…" 

The image depicts an early 20th-century double-decker bus labeled "500" in white text on the front. The bus is filled with passengers both on the lower and upper decks. The passengers are dressed in period-appropriate clothing, with hats being a predominant accessory. The bus is traveling down a tree-lined road, which hints at a park or suburban setting. The bus has a vintage design with a prominent black exterior and white signage. The front of the bus displays "SPECIAL" and "LIMITED STOPS."

First double-deck coach for Chicago, 1923 (NYPL Digital Collections)

"… and from there we went to Hurley, Wisconsin. We stayed over at my sister’s. I went to school the following fall, and in about five to six months I was talking pretty good English."

The image depicts a detailed map section featuring buildings and streets. It highlights Iron Belt Public School, located at the top center, with a rectangular shape outlined in solid lines. To the right is the larger Iron Belt High School, marked in pink with delineations for different parts like the auditorium and gymnasium. Streets such as "Johnson" and "Atlantic" are prominently labeled, with smaller buildings of varied shapes dispersed throughout. These buildings are shaded in light yellow. A compass indicating north is in the upper right corner. Additional text annotations are placed around the map providing information about features and dimensions.

The map featured, Plate 11 of the Sanborn Map of Hurley, Iron County, Wisconsin, published in 1922, describes the final destination of Marion and his family, the home of his Aunt Lena. Inset on the plate are two schools, possibly including the school that Marion attended.

FURTHER READING