It is difficult to trace someone in the United States when their whereabouts are completely unknown, as there are no central records of names and addresses available to the public. For those trying to locate former colleagues, friends or relations the following information may be of assistance. When writing to an agency or organization listed below, you should provide as much information as possible about the person you seek. At least the full name, date and place of birth should be given. For military personnel, the rank, serial number and branch of service should be specified. NB: IMPORTANT NOTICE – It is NOT possible to trace the whereabouts of persons through U.S. Immigration channels. Records of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service are protected by the Privacy Act and cannot be divulged to third parties.
We hope that success results from your efforts. Unfortunately, The Embassy is unable to initiate a search for an ancestor, missing person or person whose location may be unknown. However, the following may be of use in your research:
LOCATING RECORDS OF ANCESTORS IN THE U.S.
Present day immigration records are stored at the Embassy for a limited period of time. However, the following address may also be of use to you in your research:
American Family Immigration History Centre
Ellis Island Foundation Inc.
Attn: History Centre
17 Battery Place #210
NY 10004-3507
Phone: (001) 212 561 4588
www.ellisisland.org
Immigration and Naturalization Service
423 1st St NW,
Washington D.C. 20536
Tel: (001) 202 633-4316 / 4330 / 4354
The Director of Freedom of Information Staff
Bureau of Public Affairs
Department Of State
Washington D.C. 20520
United States National Archives & Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road,
College Park,
MD 20740-6001
OBTAINING RECORDS OF BIRTH, DEATH, MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE
Records of Birth, Death, Marriage and Divorce can be ordered over the internet on http://www.vitalchek.com. If you do not have internet access you must write to the relevant office in the state of Birth, Death, Marriage or Divorce. Unfortunately there is no central
Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages to whom you can direct inquiries, however the American Citizen Services Unit, the Consular Section, the American Embassy, 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Phone: (01) 237-5809/5810, would be happy to supply you with addresses of the relevant offices when you are in a position to identify the state or states. For your information, it is often extremely difficult to locate a specific record of a birth, death or marriage without exact information as to the names of the parties involved, the date of the event and the place in which it took place, etc.
LOCATING A MISSING PERSON OR PERSON WHOSE ADDRESS IS UNKNOWN
In the United States there are Family History Centers, which are usually located within Latter-day Saint churches. There are over 2,400 of these Family History Centers worldwide. Here you can find, or obtain, census returns, wills, church records, etc. from most parts of the world. In addition, you can consult the International Genealogical Index (I.G.I) and the Ancestral File. The I.G.I. is a worldwide index of approximately 187 million names of deceased persons. This index does not contain records of living persons. The Ancestral File contains genealogical data on millions of individuals from many countries, including information on names, places and places of birth, marriage and death. Please note that most of the information on the File concerns deceased persons. The File also contains names and addresses of persons who have submitted information, and this information is updated periodically. The family history Library may be contacted at the following address, at which a full list of all Family History Centers and their telephone numbers worldwide can be obtained, is located at the following address:
The Family History Library
35 North West Temple Street
Salt Lake City
Utah 84150
Tel: 801-240-2331
Passport Services Research and Liaison Branch
Room 500,
111 9th Street NW
Washington DC 2054-1705
Phone: (001) 202 955 0447
IRISH CHILDREN ADOPTED OVERSEAS
In the 1950’s and 1960’s a number of Irish children were placed for adoption in the United States. Those wishing to trace records of such children may wish to contact both the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, and the U.S. based Adoptees’ Search organization for assistance in locating passport and other records of these children:
Irish Department of Foreign Affairs
80 St. Stephen’s Green
Dublin 2
Tel: +353-1-4780822
Irish Children Adopted Overseas continued…
The Irish-Born Adoptees’ Search Adoptees’ Liberty Movement
C/o Catherine O’Dea PO Box 85
18460 Bishop Lane Denville,
Strongsville, OH 44136 NJ 07834
U.S.A Email: manderson@almasociety.org
Tel: (001) 216 238-1004 www.almasociety.org
HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS
The following organizations may be able to assist in cases of sufficiently compelling humanitarian need and where the missing person is a close relative:
Adoptees’ Liberty Movement Association
P.O. Box 727
Radio City Station
New York, NY 10101
U.S.A.
Tel: 001-212-581-1568
Web: www.adoption.com
International Social Services
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 001-212-532-6350
The Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs will attempt to forward correspondence to missing persons, but only when a considerable monetary or strong humanitarian consideration is involved. You should send a letter intended for the missing person, along with a brief letter of explanation to the appropriate agency. The letter to be forwarded should contain nothing of value and be in a plain, unsealed, unstamped envelope bearing only the person’s name and social security/military serial number. If this number is not known, you should include any other identifying information, such as full name, date and place of birth and parents’ names. The addresses are:
Social Security Administration Department of Veterans Affairs
300 North Green Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420
In the case of the Social Security Administration, a $3.00 fee applies in cases involving a monetary purpose. An International Money Order in dollars should be enclosed and made payable to the Social Security Administration. The SSA will be unable to report whether or not the letter is actually delivered.
Services of a U.S. Attorney
You may wish to retain a lawyer in the U.S. to help you. The American Bar Association can assist you in locating attorneys within any given state. Their website address is www.abanet.org
How to find family / friends affected by natural disaster
The American Red Cross maintains a database to help you find family.
Contact the local American Red Cross chapter where you are staying for information. Do not contact the chapter in the disaster area. Their website is www.redcross.org
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
International Family Tracing Services, American Red Cross
2025 E Street NW, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20006
The following addresses may also be of use in obtaining assistance in locating a missing adult or child
ADULT
Search Reports Inc/Central Registry of the Missing Missing Person’s International
345 Boulevard P.O. Box 46896
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604 Los Angeles, CA 90046
Tel: 201 288-4445
National Cener for Missing Adults
PO Box 6389
Glendale, AZ 85312
Tel: 001-602-749-2000
Web: www.theyaremissed.org
CHILD
Missing Children – Help Center Missing Children of America
410 Ware Blvd P.O. Box 670-949
Ste. 400 Chugiak, AK 99567
Tampa, FL 33619 Tel: 907 248-7300
Tel: 001-800-872-5437
Adam Walsh Child Resource Center Child Find of America
3111 S. Dixie Highway P.O. Box 277
Ste. 244 New Paltz, NY 12561
West Palm Beach, FL 33405 Tel: 914 255-1848
Tel: 407 833-9080
Find the Children National Center for
11811 W. Olympic Blvd Exploited and Missing
Los Angeles, CA 90064 Children
Website:
www.missingkids.com
IRISH CONSULATES
The Irish Consulates in the United States may also be in a position to assist you.
IRISH CONSULATES IN THE UNITED STATES
Embassy of Ireland
2234 Massachusetts Avenue N.W.
Washington D.C. 20008
Tel: 202 462-3939/462-3940/462-3941
Web: www.embassyofireland.org
Irish Consulate General Jurisdiction over the
Ireland House following states:
345 Park Avenue Connecticut, Delaware
17th Floor Florida, Georgia,
New York, NY 10154-0037 Jersey, New York, North
Tel: 212 319-2525/319-2550 Carolina, Maryland,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia,
Irish Consulate General Jurisdiction over the
Chase Building following states: Maine,
535 Boylston Street Massachusetts, New
Boston, MA 02116 Hampshire,
Tel: 617 267-9330/267-4470 Rhode Island, Vermont
Irish Consulate General Jurisdiction over the
400 North Michigan Avenue following state: Alabama,
Chicago, IL 60611 Arkansas, Illinois,
Tel: 312 337-1868 Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin
Irish Consulate General Jurisdiction over the
44 Montgomery St., Suite 3830 following states:
San Francisco, CA 94104 Alaska,
Tel: 415 392-4214 Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
Honorary Consul of Ireland Jurisdiction over the
65 Broadview following states: Kansas,
St. Louis MI 63105 Missouri
Tel: 618 274-0886
Major Irish-American Newspaper in the United States
Irish Echo
309 5th Avenue Room 402
NY 10016-1266
Phone: (001) 212 686 1266
LOCATING ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL
Written requests for assistance in locating information on military personnel currently serving may be sent to the appropriate office Listed below:
Air Force Worldwide Locator Army Worldwide Locator
AFPC/MSIMDL US Army ELREC
550 C Street W, Suite 508899 E. 56th Street
Randolph Air Force Base Indianapolis, IN 46249-5301
TX 78150-4752
Locating Active Military Personnel continued…
Navy Worldwide Locator Marine Corps Worldwide Locator
Bureau of Naval Personnel Commandant of the Marine Corps
For family members: BUPRS HQ, USMC, Code MMSB
Pers 324D, 2 Navy Annex Washington, DC 20380-1775
Washington, DC 20370-3240
For non-family: BUPRS
02116, 2 Navy Annex
Washington, DC 20370-0216
Coast Guard Locator
G-MPC-S-3, U.S. Coast Guard
2100 2nd Street SW
Washington, DC 20593
The above locator offices may be able to provide a current address, and in some instances will attempt to forward correspondence to the individual’s military base/unit. Correspondence for the missing service member can be enclosed – together with a brief letter of explanation – to the appropriate service locator. The letter to be forwarded should contain nothing of value and be in a plain, unsealed, unstamped envelope bearing only the individual’s grade, full name, and, if possible, military serial number. Please ensure that your name and return address – including country – is clearly indicated on the top left hand corner of the envelopes, as required by the U.S. Postal Service. Please note that a nominal fee may be charged for this service.
LOCATING FORMER MILITARY PERSONNEL
All Official Military Personnel Files of discharged and deceased veterans are kept in the United States at the National Personnel Records Center (N.R.P.C.). Requests for information on former service members must be directed, in writing, to that agency. You should mark your letter for the attention of Mr. Charles Pellegrini and mark it “Do not open in the Mail Room”. A form requesting a record search will be mailed to you. When completing the form, you should provide the full name, including middle initials, details of military service, and the former service member’s serial (or social security) number, if known. Please note that certain restrictions imposed on the N.P.R.C. by the 1974 Privacy Act may make your search more difficult. These restrictions limit disclosure of data from U.S. government files to the individual themselves or to
Those who can provide clear evidence of direct kinship to the individual being sought. In the case of children trying to trace their fathers, the N.P.R.C. is required to provide only the last known town and state – i.e., not a full street address – if they believe the father to be still alive. Addresses on record are often those furnished by the service member at the time of discharge and may well be some years out-of-date. In all instances only written requests – signed and dated – on the appropriate forms will be accepted. The address of the N.P.R.C. is:
National Personnel Records Center
Attn: Mr. Charles Pellegrini, Military Personnel Records
9700 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132-5100
U.S.A.
Locating Former Military Personnel continued…
U.S. citizens wishing to re-establish contact with, or information about, former service friends mainly use military publications and the magazines of veterans’ organizations. A brief notice placed therein reaches a wide audience and may well come to the attention of the individual themselves or a former member of the same unit. As well as individual veterans’ associations’ publications, letters are published in the following large-circulation newspapers and magazines:
Army/Navy/Air Force Times American Legion Magazine
Locator Service’ 700 N Pennsylvania Street
6883 Commercial Drive P.O. Box 1055
Springfield Indianapolis, IN 46206
VA 22159-0160
Air Force Magazine The Retired Officer Magazine
‘Bulletin Board’ 201 N Washington Ave
1501 Lee Highway Alexandria, VA 22314-2539
Arlington, VA 22209-1198
Letters written to the above publications should be brief and preferably typed. Do not send documents or photographs, and please ensure that your name and return address – including country – is clearly indicated.
Requests for information on former military personnel should be addressed to the National Personnel Records Center, Attn: Military Personnel Center, 9700 Page Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63132, U.S.A. You should be aware the addressed on record with this office are usually those furnished by the service member at the time of discharge from the armed forces and they are rarely updated. You may be required to provide adequate information concerning the service member and proof that your inquiry is made with the permission of the service man’s next of kin.
The publications listed have a wide readership and often feature letters and advertisements from individuals trying to locate former servicemen, their dependents or survivors:
The following associations may be of use in researching those who fought in the American Civil War:
The American Civil War Association, c/o Gary Griesmyer, P.O. Box 1865, Alexandria, VA 22313
The American Historical Association, 400 A. St., S.E., Washington D.C 20003
The Civil War Press Corps, 2724 Heriot Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28311
Civil War Round Table Associates, P.O. Box 7388, Little Rock, Ar 72217
The Civil War Society, 24 N. Buckmarsh St., P.O. Box 770, Berryville, VA 22611
Civil War Token Society, P.O. Box 330, Garnerville, NY 10923
Institute of Civil War Studies, c/o Alexander C. Niven, 141 N. Merranec, Ste. 12, Clayton, MO 63105
The following organizations all pertain to veterans of World War 1, and maybe able to help you in your search for persons involved in these conflicts.
Veterans of Foreign wars of the U.S.A., VFW Memorial Building, 200 Maryland Avenue, NE, Washington D.C. 20002
The American Historical Association, 400 A. St., S.E., Washington D.C. 20003
The following organizations all pertain to veterans of World War 1, and maybe able to help you in your search for persons involved in these conflicts.
World War 1 Aeroplanes, 15 Crescent Road, Ploughkeepsie, NY 12601
World War 1 Overseas Flyers, 1037 N. Astor St., Milwaukee, WI 53202
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.A., VFW Memorial Building, 200 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington D.C. 20002
National Ladies Auxiliary to Veterans of World War 1 of the U.S.A., P.O. Box 2907, Bay st., St. Louis, MS 39521-2907
Veterans of World War 1 of U.S.A. 941 N. Capitol St., N.E., Room 1201-C, Washington D.C.
World War Tank Corps Association, 2245 Cypress Drive, Ft., Worth, TX 76133
Military Order of World Wars, 435 N. Lee St., Alexandria, VA 22314
National Association Rainbow Division Veterans, 16916 George Franklyn Drive, Independence, MO 64055
Order of Lafayette (World Wars), c/o Asa E. Phillips, Jr., 1 Post Office Square, Ste., 310, Boston, MA 02109
Retreads (World Wars), c/o Orville A. Rummel, 1504 Umpqua Place, Woodburn, OR 97071
30th Infantry Division Association (World Wars), 13645 Whippet Way, E., Delray Beach, FL 33484
The following organizations all pertain to veterans of World War II, and maybe able to help you in your search for persons involved in these conflicts.
Veterans of Foreign wars of the U.S.A., VFW Memorial Building, 200 Maryland Avenue, NE, Washington D.C. 20002
Allied Airborne Association, c/o Mark C. Lenze, 155 Cross Road, St. Mary’s, PA 15857
American Division Veterans Association, PO Box 1381, Boston, MA 02104
American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, c/o Capt. Elmer E. Long, Jr., PO Box 12052, New Bern, NC 28561-2050
American Merchant Marine Veterans, 1430 NE 54th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334
Association of Free French in the U.S., c/o Dr. Rudolphe L. Coigney, 1200 5th Avenue, No 12A, NY, NY 10029
B-26 Marauder Historical Society, 14211 Chestfield Rd., Rockville, MD 20853
Bombardiers, 200 Van Buren St., No. 2109, Daphne, Al 36526
China-Burma-India Hump Pilots Association, P.O. Box 458, Poplar Bluss, MO 63901-0458
China-Burma-India Veterans Association, 5860 Amrap Dr., Parma Heights, OH 44130
Combat Merchant Mariners, 14 Castle Dr., Spring Valley, NY 10977
829th Signal Service Association, c/o A. Boehnlein, 29146 Sheridan St., Garden City, MI 48135
8th Air Force Historical Society, P.O. Box 7215, St. Paul, MN 55107
8th Armored Division Association, 66 N. Chicago St., Joliet, IL 60431
Flying Tigers of the 14th Air Force Association, PO Box 285, Selden, NY 11784
4th Marine Division Association, 2854 S., 44th St., Milwaukee, WI 53219
International B-24 Liberator Club, PO Box 15-2424, San Diego, CA 92195
94th Infantry Division, c/o Ross L. Jordan, 1415 Orion Rd., Batavia, IL 60510
99th Infantry Division Association, 1901 Roberta Lane, Champaign, IL 61821
North American Branch, (1940) Dunkirk Veterans Association, 214 Island in the Sun, 12100 Seminole Blvd., Largo, Fl 34648-2825
Pearl Harbour Survivors Association, National Adm. Office, Drawer 2598, Lancaster, CA 93539
PT Boats, INC, PO Box 38070, Germantown, TN 38183-0070
Second Air Division Association, PO Box 627, Ipswich, MA 01938
17th Airborne Division Association, 62 40 Acre Mountain Road, Danbury, CT 06811
The following organizations all pertain to veterans of World War II, and maybe able to help you in your search for persons involved in these conflicts.
U.S. Merchant Marine Veterans of World War 11, SS Lane Victory, Berth 53, PO Box 629, San Pedro, CA 90733
United States Submarine Veterans of World War II, 862 Chatham Avenue, Elmhurst, IL 60126
Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, PO Box 11129, Arlington, VA 22210-2129
Military Order of the World Wars
435 N. Lee St., Alexandria, VA 22314
National Association Rainbow Division Veterans, 16916 George Franklyn Drive, Independence, MO 64055
Women World War Veterans, Morgan Hotel, 237 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
The following organizations all pertain to veterans of Vietnam, and maybe able to help you in your search for persons involved in these conflicts.
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.A., VFW Memorial Building, 200 Maryland Avenue, NE, Washington D.C. 20002
America’s Victory Force, PO Box 2016, Learned, MS 39154
Friends of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, 2030 Clarendon Blvd., Ste. 412, Arlington, VA 22201
Gamewardens of Vietnam Association, PO Box 5523, Virginia Beach, VA 23455-0523
77th Artillery Association, PO Box 141, Booneville, MO 65223
Society of Vietnamese Rangers, PO Box 29965, Atlanta, GA 30359
Veterans of the Vietnam War, 760 Jumper Road, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702-8033
Vietnam Combat Veterans, 1267 Alma Ct., San Jose, CA 95112
Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, 7 W. 7th St., Ste. 1990, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Vietnam Veterans of America, 1224 M St., NW, Washington, DC 20005-5783
Vietnam Veterans Inst., PO Box 386, Timonium, MD 21093
Burial Places of Veterans
The Department of Memorial Affairs at the Veteran’s Administration administers cemeteries for veterans of American wars. If the person whose place of burial you seek was in the armed forces, they may have a record of his burial. You may contact the Department of Memorial Affairs at the following address:
The Department of Memorial Affairs
Veteran’s Administration
810 Vermont Avenue N.W.
Washington D.C. 20420
Tel: 202 393-4120
