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

Exploring America's Diversity: Miguel Miñan (Beginner)

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 man named Miguel Miñan – including when he 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.
 
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: Miguel Miñan (Beginner)

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 Miami


Questions About the Ship

1. What was the name of the ship Miguel Miñan 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 Miguel Miñan

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

Note: A ditto mark is a symbol (") which signifies ditto, meaning the same as above or before.
Enter your response

Population Schedule for the 1930 Census for Avenue D, Brooklyn


Questions About the Neighborhood

1. In 1930, in what state and city did Miguel Miñan live ?
2. What street did he live on in 1930?
Enter your response
Questions About Miguel Miñan’s Household

1. What number row is Miguel Miñan listed on?
2. Who is listed as “Head” of Household; on what line is the “Head” listed?
3. Who else was Miguel Miñan living with in 1930?
4. Did he rent or own his home? What was the cost?
5. Did he 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 Miguel Miñan

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

Declaration of Intention for Michael Minan


Questions About Miguel Miñan

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



1

Activity Element

Manifest of Alien Passengers on the SS Miami

Page 1



2

Activity Element

Population Schedule for the 1930 Census for Avenue D, Brooklyn

Page 1



3

Activity Element

Declaration of Intention for Michael Minan

Page 1



Conclusion

Exploring America's Diversity: Miguel Miñan (Beginner)

Making Connections

  • What did you find most interesting about this activity? 
  • What did you find most difficult about this activity?

  • If you could ask Michael Miñan any question not asked through these three documents, what would you ask him?  Why? 


Your Response




Document

Manifest of Alien Passengers on the SS Miami

4/20/1920

This document lists arrivals in Key West, Florida from the vessel SS Miami. The list was recorded on a standard manifest form and contains 33 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 Miami; 4/20/1920; Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Key West, Florida, 1898 - 1945; 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-miami, April 27, 2024]


Manifest of Alien Passengers on the SS Miami

Page 1



Document

Population Schedule for the 1930 Census for Avenue D, Brooklyn

4/02/1930

This page from the Fifteenth Census includes homes located on Avenue D 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 Avenue D, Brooklyn; 4/02/1930; 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-avenue-d-brooklyn, April 27, 2024]


Population Schedule for the 1930 Census for Avenue D, Brooklyn

Page 1



Document

Declaration of Intention for Michael Minan

6/23/1930

This is the Declaration of Intention for citizenship for Michael Minan.
This primary source comes from the Records of District Courts of the United States.
National Archives Identifier: 123640412
Full Citation: Declaration of Intention for Michael Minan; 6/23/1930; Petitions for Naturalization, 1865 - 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-michael-minan, April 27, 2024]


Declaration of Intention for Michael Minan

Page 1