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The Hamburg Passenger Lists are one of the most important — and most underused — immigration resources in genealogy. Covering departures from the port of Hamburg primarily between 1850 and 1934, these lists document millions of emigrants leaving Europe for destinations around the world.
Because these are departure records, they can reveal information that never appears on Ellis Island or Castle Garden manifests. This Quicksheet explains how the Hamburg Passenger Lists work, what information they contain, and how to use them effectively — especially when U.S. arrival searches fail.
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