2025 Genealogy Series - Researching Immigrant Ancestors: Alien Registration (AR-2) Forms

2025 Genealogy Series, Session 5 of 5 - Researching Immigrant Ancestors: Alien Registration (AR-2) Forms by Elizabeth Burnes and John LeGloahec

Elizabeth Burnes is a Subject Matter Expert for Immigrant Related Records and an archivist at the National Archives at Kansas City
John LeGloahec is an archivist in the Electronic Records Reference Branch at the National Archives at College Park, MD

⇒ Presentation Slides: https://www.archives.gov/files/calend...
⇒ Transcript: Request from [email protected]
⇒ Event Evaluation Form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KYREve...
⇒ 2025 Genealogy Series web page: https://www.archives.gov/calendar/gen...
⇒ 2025 Genealogy Series playlist:    • 2025 Genealogy Series  

Alien Registration (AR-2) Forms were utilized from 1940 to 1944 in response to the 1940 Alien Registration Act, which required all immigrants aged 14 and up to register their noncitizen status with the federal government and be assigned an Alien Registration Number (A-Number). Participants in this session will learn who should have an AR-2, discover online search methods to determine whether records are available at the National Archives, and gain the skills to successfully place a request.

00:00 - Welcome
01:38 - Introduction to Researching Immigrant Ancestors: Alien Registration (AR-2) Forms
01:48 - Presenter Biographies
02:47 - Session Overview
04:07 - Background Information
10:43 - Understanding the Records
21:40 - Requesting Records
34:25 - Thank You and Contact Info
35:22 - Closing Remarks from Sarah Farinholt, Deputy Executive for Archival Operations in Research Services
37:04 - Closing, Event Survey, Other Resources
38:07 - Questions and Answers in the chat

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