Ellis Island sits quietly in New York Harbor. For many years it was a beacon of hope for new immigrants. People came to America from around the world, searching for a better life. Some were fleeing poverty; others were seeking freedom from religious persecution. Reaching Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty were a sign to immigrants they had arrived in America and could begin their new lives. For some of the 12 million people who passed through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954, this was true. They were processed and admitted in just a few hours. Others had a much different experience.
The trip across the Atlantic Ocean was difficult, especially for passengers in third class, or steerage. People were often tired and sick when they arrived. They had spent several weeks aboard a large, crowded ship. First and second-class passengers had an easier time. If they passed a health check on board the ship, they would be quickly processed and released. The third-class passengers had to wait much longer sometimes, even days. When they did finally leave the ship, they were given identity tags and told to head for the main building on Ellis Island.
This was often a time of great confusion. Following directions in a language you don't understand is difficult! The passengers carry their most important belongings the items they had chosen to make the long trip across the ocean with them. They were tired, they were anxious, and they were often young children or elderly parents to keep track of.
On the way to the Great Hall (officially known as the Registry Room), doctors watched the immigrants as they waited in line. They looked for people who were having any sort of difficulty that could indicate they were ill. In the large, noisy room, the immigrants had to pass a health inspection. One of the worst parts was having your eyelid lifted by a tool called a buttonhook so that doctors could check for a contagious eye disease.
Immigrants who needed further inspection had a letter marked with chalk on their clothing. The letter indicated what sort of problem they were suspected of having. Immigrants who passed the health inspection were sent on to have their legal inspection. The big worry, of course, was separation. What if you passed the health inspection but your child or spouse did not?
At the next stop, immigrants were asked a series of questions, such as where they were born, where they were married, what sort of work did they do, how much money did they have, and so on. Their answers needed to match the answers on the list, or manifest, from the ship. Many people were admitted to the United states after passing the necessary requirements, that many were also detained. Some were immediately sent back to their home countries, while others spent days, or even months, in the Infirmary. Their cases would eventually be reviewed again and a decision would be made as to whether or not they could stay in America. About 3000 immigrants died on Ellis Island, and about 2% were denied entry into the United states.
For the fortunate immigrants who were given permission to stay, social workers were on hand to offer help as people made their way in a new and foreign country. They often met relatives at the kissing post, a column outside the Great Hall, where the new immigrants were reunited with friends and family.
The last immigrant passed through Ellis Island in 1954. Today, you can visit the museum and learn about the history of a place that played a role in the lives of so many American immigrants. In fact, about 40% of Americans today can trace at least one ancestor to Ellis Island. Are you one of them?
