In a message dated 6/16/2003 8:45:33 PM US Eastern Standard Time, krisa02@hotmail.com writes: << (he arrived on the Spaarndam on Aug. 14, 1890). . . . . does anyone know what other info. the Index may contain? . ., . . I'm wondering if the Index may be another dead end. >> It's an **index** -- what information do you expect to find beyond what you've gained already? Since you now have the date and ship name of his immigrant arrival (at the Port of New York presumably), what you have is access to the information contained in his immigrant passenger arrival record -- information that is, that was recorded on the 1890 version of this. These arrival records are all on microfilm (since 1940s by NARA) and can be rented and viewed at any local Family History Library of the LDS, or at a NARA regional office which has a copy of the microfilm, and at various historical and genealogy libraries. If the index is on Ancestry.com. why is it necessary to view it 'in person' at the Waltham archive? OR, is it a microfilm of the actual *ARRIVAL record* that is at this archive, and not just the index? do a web search with any search engine to find some of the many many sites that will tell you what information is contained in *immigrant passenger arrival records* (also known as manifests, or immigration papers for this timeframe) to determine if getting the one you've identified for your relative will provide you with additional needed information or call that Archive (once you've determined if they have microfilm of actual records), and ask one of their researchers who is familiar with 1890 immigrant passenger arrival records what information the manifest form contains for that time period (they became more detailed as time went on) The great thing is that you found him on an INDEX for New York for this timeframe, as NARA has never prepared an index of the arrival records at the Port of New York for the years 1846-1897. The **actual** arrival records ARE microfilmed and viewable, -- there just isn't any comprehensive name index to find the date and ship of arrival. Since you have that critical data, you can access the actual arrival record. to learn about NARA microfilms of passenger arrival records, and to determine the microfilm number which contains the manifests for ships arriving on Aug 14, 1890 see http://www.nara.gov/genealogy/immigration/immigrat.html and follow the links for New York for the appropriate years -- you should end up at Roll # 553. to rent a copy and view it at a local LDS FHL, use the online Family History Library catalogue, or visit a local FHL to determine the correct LDS film number to order/rent http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHLC/frameset_fhlc.asp Other suggestions for locating information (which you may have already pursued of course) -- assuming you're trying to determine a village in Europe. look for a second arrival -- many immigrants went back and forth in this timeframe -- (there are two Wanic in online Ellis Island arrivals for example - use alternate spellings as well) get copy of his marriage record if in USA -- these often list place of birth get his obit, and death certificate -- sometimes list place of birth if known by person providing the information check for naturalization papers (citizenship) and obtain copies find the family in all relevant USA censuses (1920 MAY provide a town name) determine siblings and trace information (the SS#5 will list their common parents, if your GGF was too old to have enrolled in social security ~1933 -- get his if not) obtain probate records for his estate upon death The details (copies) of all of the above will not be found on the internet, or at ancestry.com (except census). Regards Linda