There are quite a few lessons (or reminders) one can get from the 1905 passport application of John Goldenstein. United States passport applications are available at FamilySearch, and at Ancestry.com. Both sites have indexes to the passports that are for the passport applicant only. Other names that may be listed on the passport are not indexed. The number of “other names” on any passport can vary over time and whether there were any “issues” with the application.
John Goldenstein’s application is fairly straightforward, but there are other names on it. Names that are not indexed and names that could be clues, particularly since they contain the addresses of where those people were living at the time of the application.
John’s passport had to be witnessed. That witness was L. U. Albers of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Albers was not just a witness. He was married to a first cousin of Goldenstein’s father. The application does not state the relationship. After all it’s not germane to the application.
For reasons that are not explained, Goldenstein’s passport was to be sent to Mrs. T. M. Ehmen of Sterling, Nebraska. She was the widow of a first cousin of John Goldenstein. Again the relationship is not stated. The passport does not state through what port John intended to travel (they usually don’t) and it is possible that he was visiting Nebraska while on his way to depart for Europe.
John Goldenstein, US Passport Application, NARA microfilm M1372, issue date: 27 June 1905, passport 108006; digital image from Fold3.com.
Lesson:
When using any database, determine what names from the document are indexed and what names are not. Often every name is not indexed. Think of what causes the other names to be in the record and how they could relate to the person whose name is indexed.
Because you’ll have to search for the name that’s in the index.
All the more reason to search for names of that extended family network.
