The online tool for teaching with documents, from the National Archives

Exploring America's Diversity: Gertrud Danneberg (Intermediate)

Making Connections

All documents and text associated with this activity are printed below, followed by a worksheet for student responses.

Introduction

In this activity, you will learn about the life of a woman named Gertrud Danneberg – including when she came to the United States as an immigrant, settled in the United States, and became a U.S. citizen.
 
You will see a ship passenger arrival list, a census record, and a naturalization document. These kinds of documents contain details about the lives of millions of Americans. You will learn about the immigration process and see what trends you can find in these government forms.
 
Look at each document below — click "View Document Details" to see it more closely. After each document, read the questions that follow, and answer them in the response boxes.


Name:
Class:

Worksheet

Exploring America's Diversity: Gertrud Danneberg (Intermediate)

Making Connections

Examine the documents and text included in this activity. Fill in any blanks in the sequence with your thoughts and write your conclusion response in the space provided.

Manifest of Alien Passengers on the SS Columbus


Questions About the Ship

1. What was the name of the ship Gertrud Danneberg arrived on?
2. What city or country did the ship come from?
3. What year did the ship arrive in America?
Enter your response
Questions About Gertrud Danneberg

1. What number row is Gertrud Danneberg listed on?
2. How old was she when she came to America?
3. What was her job? (Hint: see calling or occupation)
4. Was she able to read and write?
5. What was her nationality and race?
6. What was her final destination in America?
7. How much money did she have when she came to America?

Note: The ditto mark is a symbol (") that signifies ditto, meaning the same as above or before.
Enter your response
Open-ended Questions

1. Looking at the top of each column, scan the other questions that U.S. immigration officials asked. What do you think was the most interesting question? Why do you think they asked it?

2. Scan the details of the other passengers on board the same ship as Gertrud Danneberg. Are there any similarities or differences between the passengers? Are there any apparent trends?
Enter your response

Population Schedule for the 1930 Census for Fenimore Street, Brooklyn


Questions About Gertrud Danneberg's Neighborhood

1. In 1930, in what state and city did Gertrud Danneberg live?
2. What street did she live on in 1930?
Enter your response
Questions About Gertrude Danneberg's Household

1. Who is listed as “Head” of Household; on what line is the “Head” listed?
2. Who else was Gertrude Danneberg living with in 1930?
3. Did her household rent or own the home? What was the cost?
4. Did her household have a radio set at home?

Note: Head of Household was the person in charge of the household and generally the Census designated the head of the family as the husband or father, widowed woman, or unmarried person of either sex.
Enter your response
Questions About Gertrud Danneberg

1. Was Gertrud Danneberg married? If so, how old was she when she married?
2. What language (or mother tongue) did Danneberg speak before coming to the United States?
3. What did she do for a job in 1930? (Hint: See occupation and industry.)
Enter your response
Open-ended Questions

1. Looking at other people on the census record, what can you tell about this neighborhood?
2. Are there any similarities or differences between the residents?
3. Are there any apparent trends?
Enter your response

Declaration of Intention for Gertrud Danneberg


Questions About Gertrud Danneberg

1. What district court did Gertrud Danneberg declare her intent to naturalize in?
2. What was Danneberg’s street address when she naturalized?
3. What was her occupation?
4. What were her eye and hair color?
5. What were her height and weight?
6. What were her race and nationality?
7. In what city and country was Danneberg born?
8. What was her birthday?
9. Did she change her name after arriving in the United States?
10. What year did she declare her intent to become a U.S. citizen?
Enter your response
Open-ended Question

1. Read the citizenship oath located in the paragraph directly above Gertrud Danneberg's signature (starting with "I will..."). What do you think is most interesting about this oath? Explain
Enter your response



1

Activity Element

Manifest of Alien Passengers on the SS Columbus

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2

Activity Element

Population Schedule for the 1930 Census for Fenimore Street, Brooklyn

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3

Activity Element

Declaration of Intention for Gertrud Danneberg

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Conclusion

Exploring America's Diversity: Gertrud Danneberg (Intermediate)

Making Connections

  • What did you find most interesting about this activity?
  • What did you find most difficult about this activity?
  • If you could ask Gertrud Danneberg any question not asked through these three documents, what would you ask her? Why?


Your Response




Document

Manifest of Alien Passengers on the SS Columbus

10/29/1928

This document lists arrivals in New York, New York from the vessel SS Columbus. The list was recorded on a standard manifest form and contains 36 columns of information, including age, occupation, address, nearest relative or friend, destination, physical description, and place of birth.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Full Citation: Manifest of Alien Passengers on the SS Columbus; 10/29/1928; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 6/16/1897 - 7/3/1957; Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, ; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/manifest-of-alien-passengers-on-the-ss-columbus, March 29, 2024]


Manifest of Alien Passengers on the SS Columbus

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Document

Population Schedule for the 1930 Census for Fenimore Street, Brooklyn

4/07/1930

This page from the Fifteenth Census includes homes located on Fenimore Street in Brooklyn, New York. This form includes a wealth of information about the individuals recorded, including place of birth, occupation, and military service.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Bureau of the Census.
Full Citation: Population Schedule for the 1930 Census for Fenimore Street, Brooklyn; 4/07/1930; Population Schedules for the 1930 Census, 1930 - 1930; Records of the Bureau of the Census, ; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/population-schedule-for-the-1930-census-for-fenimore-street-brooklyn, March 29, 2024]


Population Schedule for the 1930 Census for Fenimore Street, Brooklyn

Page 1



Document

Declaration of Intention for Gertrud Danneberg

1/14/1931

This primary source comes from the Records of District Courts of the United States.
Full Citation: Declaration of Intention for Gertrud Danneberg; 1/14/1931; Petitions for Naturalization, 1824 - 1991; Records of District Courts of the United States, ; National Archives at New York, New York, NY. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/declaration-of-intention-for-gertrud-danneberg, March 29, 2024]


Declaration of Intention for Gertrud Danneberg

Page 1