From time to time Ancestry.com offer limited free access to
certain databases, regardless of subscriber status. What is less well know is
that they have a couple of hundred databases that are always free to access.[1]
One database of interest is New York City, Ellis Island Oral Histories, 1892-1976. This
collection contains some 2,000 oral histories collected by the Ellis Island
Oral History Program through the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Begun in
1973, the project aims to collect first-hand information about immigrant experiences
from everyday life in their country of origin, family history, reasons for
coming to America, the journey to the port, experiences on the ship, arrival,
processing at Ellis Island, and adjustment to life in the U.S. Most
interviewees are chosen from submitted questionnaires, range in age from 46 to
106, though the average age is late eighties, and are from many countries.[2]
Of these 2000 interviews, about 60 are with Irish immigrants
now living in the U.S. They come from all over the 32 counties; places such as
Tuam, Galway; Dublin; Urlingford, Kilkenny; Newry, Down; Newcastle, Limerick;
and Bundoran, Donegal. Most were born between 1890 and 1930. It is a wonderful
archive. The interviews provide an insight into early 20th century Ireland
and how these immigrants adjusted to their new lives in the U.S.
You can access the database here (you will need to register for free to listen to the oral histories). As an
aside, here
is a 2011 listing of free Ancestry databases. Hat tip to the Ancestry Insider.
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