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

Exploring America's Diversity: Gertrud Danneberg (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 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.
 
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 (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 Columbus


Questions About the Ship

1. What was the name of the ship Gertrude 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 Gertrud Danneberg 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: 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 Fenimore Street, Brooklyn


Questions About the 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 Gertrud Danneberg’s Household

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

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 her 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 was her race and nationality?
7. In what city and country was Dannberg 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



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

Page 1



3

Activity Element

Declaration of Intention for Gertrud Danneberg

Page 1



Conclusion

Exploring America's Diversity: Gertrud Danneberg (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 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://docsteach.org/documents/document/manifest-of-alien-passengers-on-the-ss-columbus, May 11, 2024]


Manifest of Alien Passengers on the SS Columbus

Page 1



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://docsteach.org/documents/document/population-schedule-for-the-1930-census-for-fenimore-street-brooklyn, May 11, 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://docsteach.org/documents/document/declaration-of-intention-for-gertrud-danneberg, May 11, 2024]


Declaration of Intention for Gertrud Danneberg

Page 1