In our “Researching Online” series this week, we review the joy of finding gems and important genealogical facts about a person through Passport Applications. The case study used will highlight not only the basic information which can be found, some history on the passport system, plus snippets of an amazing love story! Curious? Read on….
If you need help searching for your family’s passports, I’m happy to talk through the conversations and offer advice. You can fill out the Contact Me! form or email me directly at info@shapingyourfamilytree.com.
What can be found in passports?
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Where to find passports” (a partial list, below)
- Ancestry Border Crossing and Passports Collection which currently contains 43 different record sets – https://www.ancestry.com/search/categories/img_bordercross/ (with subscription)
- Family Search Passports collection which currently contains 54 different record sets (free) – https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=100&query=%2Bsubject%3APassports
- FindMyPast (UK) Travel in Travel & migration record set – https://search.findmypast.co.uk/search-united-kingdom-records-in-travel-and-migration/and_travel (with subscription). The description of their set:
“The first ‘modern’ passports date from 1915, but circa 1850 passports became standardized documents used by nationals to travel abroad. They began life as a single sheet of paper, but by 1915 had also begun to include a photograph. Application records for passports found here can provide great detail about the individual applicant, as well as the knowledge that your ancestor likely travelled abroad at some point – which may lead to new lines of enquiry”.
Passports in the United States
While passport applications in the United States are managed by U.S. Department of State — Bureau of Consular Affairs, the National Archives maintains the record sets for various entities. Americans have been traveling abroad since 1789. Administration of passports by The Department of State began August 23, 1856, when Congress passed an act giving it the authority. Amazingly, 130,360 passports were issued between 1810 and 1873, more than 369,844 between 1877 and 1909, and more than 1,184,085 between 1912 and 1925. Women often traveled with men, however, in 1923 they represented 40% of applicants. Many types of passports were issued over the years: regular ones, emergency six-month passports for diplomatic and consular officials, and insular possessions or territories passports (like Hawaii before it became a state). Check the National Archives pages for details on researching passports. https://www.archives.gov/research/passport
CASE STUDY:
Passport research has been one of the favorite avenues of our research. One case involved a grand uncle (brother to a grandfather) and the prospective bride-to-be. Her passport not only contained the requisite genealogical gem information everyone enjoys in their searches, but also contained key information about their relationship. This case is the only one found so far with a love letter as part of the instructions for her, inside the application.
Lucile Dayton was to meet her groom, Mac, in Tampico, Mexico, where he was employed with his brother by the Texas Corporation, later known as Texaco. Inside her application included a letter intended to inform her where to go for their rendezvous, but also contained professions of love.
Check the slider images below to read snippets in her passport application. Again, this is not the usual letter that accompanies an application, but what a treat for this family! This couple married and lived together until their death, not having children, but having a love for each other that was so genuine. Enjoy!
