Passports for Italian Immigrants

nuccia · Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:29 am Post subject: Passports for Italian Immigrants

A while back I remember someone asking a question about passports and when Italian Immigrants were required to carry them. I found this article this morning from www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ which I thought might be useful to someone. It also includes a list of 1300 Immigrants that left Philadelphia for Italy...

Returning Home

Prior to 1914 there was little need for a passport in order to arrive or
leave the United States. With the entry of the U.S. into World War I, it
became apparent that the country must protect itself from foreign agents.
As of 26 July 1917, passports were required. By the Act of May 22, 1918,
foreigners wishing to leave the country were required to file an "Alien's
Application for Permission to Depart from the United States" As the war drew
to a close many persons chose to return to their native land. For the
fiscal year ending 30 June 1919, 10,730 applications were received at
Philadelphia.

Eventually, being obsolete, these files were disposed of by the INS offices
throughout the U.S., EXCEPT in Philadelphia. Some 2500 of these have
survived for the period September 1918 to January 1919. Over half of these
are from Italian citizens (Birds of Passage). Twenty-seven countries are
represented.

These applications contain a wealth of information regarding these
individuals. Besides their name, age and parentage, there is where, when
and how they arrived in the U.S. and where they have been residing. Finally
there is a full physical description with a photograph. Spouses and
children under 14 years of age were covered by the same application.

Through the efforts of many volunteer hands at the National Archives - Mid
Atlantic Region, these applications have been indexed for your use. They
are filed in Record Group 85, entry 181. Copies may be obtained by mail
from the Archives, 900 Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19107 at a cost of
$10.00 (the NARA minimum mailing fee). Identify by application number and
name the file you wish copied. They also may be viewed and copied at the
Archives. Please phone ahead so that the files may be pulled
(215-597-3000).

charliemis

Here is a copy of my Great Uncle's passport app. The sad thing was that he actually lived about 20 miles from where my Mom and her brother were living with my Grandmother and her second husband (my Grandfather had passed away at a young age when my Mom was 1 year old) at the time. I don't think that Ernesto knew that his brother's children were living near Philadelphia, as they had just moved there from NYC. Back then communications and travel were difficult; my Grandmother was also not able to read or write. Ernesto was traveling back to Italy as he was ill (for the fresh mountain air) ---- then he was not allowed to re-enter the USA as he had contracted TB. He died in his birthplace in Italy and his wife and children never were able to see him again.

This was sent to me by a distant cousin who retrieved this from Ancestry; there was also another page with his picture which she had trouble downloading

nuccia

Thanks for sharing it Charlie! kiss

Cathy · V.I.P. Joined: Jul 10, 2007 Posts: 2681

Wow Charlie....that is so sad! You did get the second page, right?