A few random thoughts re: Orphan Asylums, an area near to my heart. 1) You are more likely to get records if the facility is closed and the nuns no longer reside on the "home's" property. 2) For Catholic institutions of all types, contact the archivist for the Archdiocese/Diocese where the "home" was located. BROOKLYN Joseph Coen Chair, Archivists of Religious Institutions R. C. Diocese of Brooklyn Archivist 310 Prospect Park West Brooklyn, NY 11215 (718)-965-7301 archives@diobrook.org NEW YORK Rev Michael P. Morris, M.A., M.Div., Archivist of the Archdiocese of New York (914) 968-6200 Ext. 8369 michael.morris@archny.org ROCKVILLE CENTER Diocese of Rockville Centre P.O. Box 9023 Rockville Centre, NY 11571-9023. (631) 423-0491 archives@drvc.org 3) Since the best sources on life in a "home" is a person who lived there, check out regional list archives. You may also find blogs and reunions of former residents. You might appreciate comedienne Rosie Perez' memoir about St. Joseph Home, Peekskill, NY> "Handbook for an Unpredicatable Life: How I Survived Sister Renata and My Crazy Mother" (Mar 31, 2015) It's eye-opening about the home and fragmented families. I hope this brings you closer to your ancestors. Barb