Ancestry's Immigration Collection - Free Until Dec. 31, 2006

This offer has expired. You might enjoy this online directory of free and fee-based passenger lists and immigration records indexes...

Directory of Online Passenger Lists Indexes and Records

New York Passenger Lists Online Database Updated: 1820-1957

Ancestry has updated their online New York ship passenger lists database. It now covers the years 1820-1957. The database includes a name index for the passengers as well as digitized images of the passenger lists from the National Archives microfilm. The Barge Office, Castle Garden and Ellis Island periods are included in the database. See: New York Passenger Lists Quick Guide 1820-1957 for a link to the database and basic NY ship passenger lists information.

For some information about finding passenger lists at other ports see: Finding Passenger Lists 1820-1940s - arrivals at US Ports

Live Long and Prosper - How Symbols Influence Pop Culture

The Cemetery Symbols Blog has a recent post about the Jewish symbol of the Priestly Blessing, which can sometimes be found on tombstones of people with a priestly lineage. The Hebrew word for priest is Kohen (or Cohen). As a child, actor Leonard Nimoy saw the Priestly Blessing in a synagogue and later adapted it as the Vulcan hand greeting in the Star Trek television series. For more see: Kohanim or Cohanim Hands - Priestly Blessing at the cemetery symbols blog.