Russians To America

The age of the steam boat made emigration to America much easier journey, allowing many people from Russia to escape religious persecution, decreasing land and jobs, and increasing political strife. Russian Jews comprised a large portion of migration from Russia, especially following the Russian government's removal of the freedom to worship in 1870.

Russians to America, 1834-1897

This immigration record collection provided by the National Archives and Records Administration and contains official extracts from more than 500,000 arriving immigrants from Russia at the ports of Baltimore, Boston, New Orleans, New York, and Philadelphia between 1834-1897.

Russian immigration to America may include:

• First name(s)
• Last name
• Birth Year
• Year of Arrival
• Occupation
• Country of origin
• City or town of last residence
• Port of arrival
• Destination
• Travel compartment
• Port of departure
• Date of arrival
• Ship’s name

Notes: The information in this database was provided by the National Archives and Records Administration and contains official extracts from more than 500,000 arriving immigrants from Russia at the ports of Baltimore, Boston, New Orleans, New York, and Philadelphia between 1834-1897.

Between 1815 and 1915 around 30 million Europeans immigrated to the United States. For central and eastern Europeans, such as Russian immigrants where immigration was restricted, travel to the US meant weeks or months at sea.