In view of the recent press coverage I doubt if many list members don't know about it, but just in case not I thought I should mention that the Ellis Island Records are now online at: http://www.ellisislandrecords.org The database contains the records of 22 million immigrants to America who came through Ellis Island and covers the period 1892, when Ellis Island first opened, to 1924. I managed to access the site early this morning whilst America slept and was quite impressed - obviously access is a little slow at the moment and is subject to overloading at peak times, but give it a week or two and access should start to speed up as the initial enthusiasm wanes and the number of journalists wanting to write about the site drops back to a level that the servers can cope with:-) No, I didn't find my John and Sarah THOMPSON ((nee EWENS) b Bridport, Dorset 1868 married Cardiff 1891), but I shall call back at the site at a later date to see if they are recorded under alternative spellings - thought I should to squeeze a little Wessex content in somewhere:-) Oh yes! To view certain parts of the site you have to register which is free unless you require Membership in the Foundation: see http://www.ellisislandrecords.org/help/whe_register_1.asp?MID=481978082&nsrelax=yes#register for details. Regards Paul Portland