John Goldenstein applied for a passport in Albuquerque, New Mexico Territory, in 1905. The native of Wrisse, Germany, was intending to be in Germany for approximately three months. The reason for his trip is not stated on his passport application.

One of the most interesting parts of his application is the chronology of where he lived between his May 1889 immigration to the United States and the date of his application. According to his passport application, he had lived in:

• Gothenburg, Nebraska, between 1889 and 1893
• Sterling, Nebraska, between 1893 and 1896
• Albuquerque, New Mexico, between 1896 and 1902
• and Douglas, Arizona Territory, between 1902 and 1905

Given that Goldenstein settled in Gothenburg almost immediately after his arrival (apparently), he most likely had some connection in that location. That would be a reasonable inference to make and if I was unaware of Gothenburg’s connection to the Goldenstein family, research should be conducted in that area. Of course the person with whom he had a connection in Gothenburg did not have to be a biological relative. It’s possible that Goldenstein moved “out of his kin/associate network” once he established himself in the United States. It turns out that Goldenstein had family connections in the first three locations he lists on his application.

The passport application helps to pinpoint Goldenstein’s movements during a time when it can be difficult to track people–especially in the region of the United States where he was living. And if I was unaware that the family had connections in Gothenburg and Sterling, Nebraska, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, the application would have been even more helpful.