Family Finds Long-Awaited Link to the Past

June 22, 2004 -- A long-awaited trip to see a name engraved in steel gave the Greeman family what they were looking for at last: a profound link to their past.

Along the "wall of honor" at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum in New York are some of the names of the millions of immigrants who landed there at the turn of the century. Among them was Jenny Greeman's paternal great-great-grandfather.

"I find it so interesting and emotional, and I wanted to share everything that I found out about our family with the people I love," said Greeman, a New York woman who sought out her family roots at Ellis Island.

For Jenny, those loved ones include her mom Julie, her cousin Tim and his daughter, Rachel.

But these hallowed grounds have an even deeper significance for Jenny and her mother.

Parallel Lives

"My grandmother was an immigrant from Poland, and she became an actress and folk singer," Jenny Greeman said. "And what's very exciting for me is that I am now a performer myself. My grandmother passed away in October and we were very close and being here makes me feel very close because I am sort of being who she was," added Greeman, who is an actress.

Her mother was equally moved at the photographs of immigrants, carrying bags that contained everything they owned.

"When I walked in and I saw those pictures with all the bags, that just did it for me," Julie Greeman said. "It sounds corny, but it makes me feel close to my roots I think."

Ellis Island was the gateway to freedom for more than 17 million immigrants from 100-plus countries who landed in New York between 1892 and 1924. Every year more than 3 million visitors visit the island, many of them to trace their family's roots. And doing so is particularly great for kids. It boosts their self-esteem and builds their character.

"So I think it's just important to come here so you can see the person who gave you a better life," said Rachel Greeman.

No Advanced Tools Required

Dan Lynch, a professional genealogist, has been helping families trace their roots for over 20 years.

"The great thing about getting started in genealogy is it doesn't really require any advanced tools," he said. "A couple of sheets of paper, a folder, a pen and your memory."

From there, it's just a matter of doing a little research around the house.

"It's really kind of embarking on what amounts to a treasure hunt," Lynch said. "Looking around the home for those news clippings, postcards, letters — any item that might contain a clue for family history research."

The most popular tool for those seeking information on their families is the Internet, which is overflowing with genealogy sites. Familysearch.org, run by the Church of Latter-Day Saints, has more than 1 billion names in its database, which users can access for free. But the richest source of family stories are those shared at a family reunion, or passed down through the generations.

"She talked about coming over on the boat, that she ran up and down the boat and was a hellion," Julie Greeman recalled. "She went up and down the elevators all the time because it was new for her."

These glimpses of history came to life as the Greemans walked in their ancestors' footsteps and discovered detailed information about their family's roots on the museum's database.

"It was like nothing I could have imagined," Julie Greeman said. "I didn't know it was going to be like this. I cried most of the time. Now I just feel elated. It was amazing!"