While on our trip to New Jersey and New York we made a trip to Ellis Island. I knew it would be an interesting and enlightening visit, but I was shocked at how thought-provoking it would be. We got off the boat and made our way toward the main building, just like many immigrants that landed in New York would.
As soon as we walked in the first thing you noticed was a huge room called the baggage room where the immigrants would have to leave their bags then climb the huge staircase leading up to the Great Hall. We soon found out that this was the first part of an inspection process that took approximately 3-7 hours for the vast majority of immigrants. For many Ellis Island was truly an “Island of Hope” – the first stop on their way to new opportunities and experiences in America. For the rest, it became the “Island of Tears” – a place where families were separated and individuals were denied entry into the United States.
These stairs were actually used as a way to determine that newcomers to the United States were medically fit to enter the country. The doctors would look at the immigrants as they climbed the stairs from the baggage area (on the main floor) to the Great Hall. Immigrants’ behavior would be studied for difficulties in getting up the staircase. They were then given a six second medical examination and marked with codes in chalk on the immigrants clothing for further testing or review. Some were stated to have gotten around this by wiping it off or turning their clothes inside out. Here are some of the codes they used:
If they made it that far, they were then given an eye check for diseases such as trachoma using a dreaded button hook implement. It was painful and wasn’t cleaned between each use. Therefore you could come into Ellis Island trachoma free, but leave with it or another disease. Scary and sad.
For those who did not make it through the medical inspection , one of a few things could happen. You could be send immediately back to your country or origin, you could be held for further inspection in the Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital, our you could be detained until the “cured” whatever ailment you were perceived to have. They were very worried about these new immigrants becoming a public charge. We heard so many sad stores about children who had issues and had to return to their country but they couldn’t leave alone, thus one of the parents had to return as well, never to see each other again. I understand their concern, but it is so heartbreaking.
It is an amazing building that was built in 1892 and continued to be an inspection station until 1954. It is stated that an estimated 12 million people passed though on their way to obtaining the American dream. The first immigrant to pass through Ellis Island was Annie Moore, a 15-year-old girl from Cork, Ireland, who arrived on the ship Nevada on January 1, 1892.[ She and her two brothers were coming to America to meet their parents, who had moved to New York two years prior. She received a greeting from officials and a $10 gold coin. It was the largest sum of money she had ever owned. The last person to pass through Ellis Island was a Norwegian merchant seaman by the name of Arne Peterssen in 1954. There were quite a few notable immigrants that came through Ellis Island. Check on the link to see if you recognize any names.
While we were there just soaking up the experience a tour guide came by with a group and we listened. He made sure that we all knew the truth about the myth that government officials on Ellis Island compelled immigrants to take new names against their wishes. He stated that it was not true and that Federal immigration Inspectors were under strict supervision. They were more interested in preventing inadmissible aliens from entering the country (for which they were held accountable) than in assisting them in trivial personal matters such as altering their names. As I have found out through doing genealogy, it was more likely written down wrong when the immigrant left their country of origin. Many people could not read or write, so it was often misspelled by the person helping them fill out paperwork on the ship’s manifest. I have seen a lot of that in my research. Such a shame and makes researching quite frustrating at times.
It was quite an experience and they have a great research area (for a fee) for anyone who wants to see if any of their relatives came through Ellis Island. They also have what they call a kissing section where families were reunited. What a joyous reunion those must have been! It was astonishing some of the things these people went through and I am glad we went to learn more about it. It’s not just a place anymore, it is a memory for me.
Great blog! To get the other side of the picture, see the Emigrants to a New World Gallery at the Merseyside Maritime in Liverpool. Really a must see pairing if you have enjoyed going to one of them.
I live in England and have spoken with many folks in the US with similar surnames ( Family names ) as mine.
They are tracing their family back to England.. 100 years or so ago.
But because their surname is spelt differently to mine then it presumed they aren’t descended from my ancestors.
Before attending school became compulsory many people could not write their own names. They would just sign it with an X.
So when immigrants were boarding a ship – from here in Liverpool – to New York they would tell the Ships Registrar their surname – and he would guess the spelling. And he was often wrong !
Smitt – Smith – Smyth – Smythe – Schmitt and so on .
It has been years since I visted Ellis Island. I really enjoyed “going back” when I read your article and looked at your excellent photos. Thank you for the memories; awesome place everyone should visit!
As Garry points out, many people had their names altered or lost in the immigration process…and that was particularly true for people whose language was far different from that of the U.S. immigration inspectors. In those cases, the inspector wrote down what he thought he heard, or cared to, and voila! Bzorkinowitz becomes Burke.
As a child, I knew families that were split: Some members used the original East European names, and heaped scorn on their cousins who used what they referred to as their “Ellis Island name.”
It’s also been a number of years since I visited Ellis Island, which we coupled with a tour of the Statue of Liberty (it’s neighboring island). I also recall it being an eye-opening experience. Lots of interesting exhibits and you definitely leave with a different perspective of those immigrants than when you arrived. They were brave people, entering a strange new world that was for all purposes free of any tangible benefits except for freedom and opportunity. And opportunity comes with a lot of work to make success.