Ellis Island is a significant location when researching immigrants entering the United States starting Jan 1, 1892.  Not everyone entered through Ellis Island, but it is a starting point.  The vast number of immigrants (over 17 million) coming from so many countries, speaking so many languages, makes for an interesting search.

Sharon DeBartolo Carmack’s book Guide to Finding Your Ellis Island Ancestors provided me step by step instructions of where to look, what to look for, and what to do if I did not find my ancestors.

There are blank Immigration and Passenger List forms which will greatly help in tracking your work and understanding what you are reading on the original documents.