Many immigrants entered the US under the Displaced Persons Act. Based on specific criteria, eligible displaced persons (DPs) could be admitted to the US if they would not become a public charge and have safe and sanitary housing and employment without displacing some other person. The displaced person or refugee was the concern of the International Refugee Organization. The US created the Displaced Persons Commission to oversee the act’s enactment. Is your ancestor named in the record sets created? The presentation will discuss the History of the Act and the records created as a result of the Act.
In the powerful webinar From Despair to Cargoes of Hope: World War II’s Displaced Persons, genealogist Ann Staley guides researchers through a pivotal and often overlooked chapter of immigration history. This session, hosted by the Board for Certification of Genealogists, delves into the experiences and records of millions of European refugees uprooted during and after WWII. With passion and precision, Staley illuminates the challenges these individuals faced, the legislative milestones that shaped their migration, and the treasure trove of genealogical records left behind—vital for anyone tracing ancestors who might have been among these displaced persons (DPs).
Key Takeaways:
This informative webinar is an invaluable resource for genealogists aiming to uncover the stories of ancestors affected by WWII displacement. Whether researching European heritage or understanding post-war immigration, this presentation equips viewers with practical tools, research strategies, and historical context.
To uncover the full breadth of insights, including practical examples, search strategies, and lesser-known record types, view the full webinar here. The accompanying syllabus is rich with links, reference numbers, and archival tips—an essential companion to further your research.
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A wonderful presentation on the topic of finding records for displaced persons. Ann clearly knows her material, and the list of resources she provided is excellent!
Fantastic presentation on a little known or talked about topic. Great list of resources and a lively and engaging speaker.
A very helpful presentation on Displace Persons.
Unstudied topic. Very interesting historical records
I’ve studied this topic for a while and every webinar offers new info. Thanks for the presentation and the well-organized handout cross-referenced with slides.
Very interesting!
Excellent and new information to me.
It is pure coincidence that on Sunday I attended a meeting of the Global Jewish Genealogical Society presented by a member of the reference staff at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. She explained that they are unfortunately short staffed right now, and may suffer further budget cuts due to the current administration. But she also explained that the best first place to start a search of their records is the Collection Search, which is reachable from that left-hand margin that was shown tonight.