P, 1914-1973

This series contains documents pertaining to inquiries made to HIAS regarding the arrival statuses of immigrants for the years 1911-1977. These include letters written by individuals, their relatives, communications between the various HIAS branches, as well as telegrams and medical records. The content and purpose of these inquiries range from seeking arrival details for a specific ship and person, notifications of detention, and reasons for detention or rejection, as well as requests for arrival records to aid in naturalization and to establish social security benefits. Due to the inquisitive nature of this series many of its documents provide details of a person’s name, place of birth, marital status, and journey details, such as route, if they were accompanied by anyone, and who they might have been destined to, as provided by the individual as they remember it or how it was initially recorded by officials upon their arrival. Additionally, there is a folder containing miscellaneous ship and passenger files with a list of steamship companies for 1924.