Library / Archive, Family History, Emigrant Trail

The Friends' archive also holds about 200 'American' LETTERS and those written to immigrants from relatives in the Old World. Series of letters give an especially interesting insight into the emigrants' fate. In addition many other material documenting the emigration to overseas can be found in the archive: advertisements of shipping companies, passports, naturalization papers etc.
EnvelopeLetter The holdings of the library as well as the collection of graphics, letters and documents are continually supplemented. Support us in improving our archive: Make 'American' letters or other historical documents of emigration available to us. Our Association will make them accessible to an interested public

Letter of  Ihnke Kleihauer from Ostfriesland written in Bremerhaven, on his way to  Illinois
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Are you interested in the history of your family? Were emigrants to the United States among your ancestors and relatives? Based on lists of ships which entered the main North American immigration ports (New York, New Orleans, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston) between 1850 and 1890 the Friends' staff is ready to help you research your FAMILY HISTORY.

Emigration via Bremerhaven has left its traces in the city. Join us on the EMIGRANT TRAIL (by appointment only) through Bremerhaven from north to south. It can be regarded as a chronological guide through the history of the town, its harbors, passenger-shipping and emigration.