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Ellis Island Ellis Island & &

ImmigrationImmigration


The Trip Across the OceanThe Trip Across the Ocean

______________________________________________________ Shipping-line ads promised a six-day trip Shipping-line ads promised a six-day trip

on a fine ship, “including a plentiful on a fine ship, “including a plentiful supply of cooked provisions.”supply of cooked provisions.”

But often a week or more passed before But often a week or more passed before the ship managed to labor halfway the ship managed to labor halfway across the Atlantic.across the Atlantic.


““Cooked provisions” were Cooked provisions” were ________________________________.________________________________. Soggy rye bread and a barrel of herring for Soggy rye bread and a barrel of herring for

the Slavs, Swedes, Germans, and Jews the Slavs, Swedes, Germans, and Jews traveling on the northern routestraveling on the northern routes

Sardines and soggy wheat bread for the Sardines and soggy wheat bread for the Italians, Greeks, and Armenians who came Italians, Greeks, and Armenians who came via the Mediterranean.via the Mediterranean.


Wise immigrants packed sausages and Wise immigrants packed sausages and loaves of brown bread for themselves, loaves of brown bread for themselves, not ___________________________.not ___________________________.

As on Hungarian immigrant later recalled, As on Hungarian immigrant later recalled, “We brought a whicker basket with roast “We brought a whicker basket with roast chicken and cookies and apple strudel.”chicken and cookies and apple strudel.”


The CostThe Cost One ticket to America was around $35.00One ticket to America was around $35.00

This price paid for steerage quartersThis price paid for steerage quarters Immigrants could not afford anything betterImmigrants could not afford anything better

Children paid __________________Children paid __________________ Infants traveled Infants traveled

__________________________


Steerage QuartersSteerage Quarters

SteerageSteerage quarters below deck were quarters below deck were horribly crowdedhorribly crowded

No portholes and little ventilationNo portholes and little ventilation Skimpy and carelessly maintained toilet Skimpy and carelessly maintained toilet

facilitiesfacilities Most passengers didn’t wash, those who Most passengers didn’t wash, those who

did had to brave the freezing ocean water did had to brave the freezing ocean water that ran from faucets in the steerage that ran from faucets in the steerage washroomwashroom


Many passengers believed Many passengers believed __________________________________________________________________________________________________.________________________________.

Even on easy passages – and most Even on easy passages – and most journeys took place in the calm spring journeys took place in the calm spring and summer months – many were and summer months – many were seasick.seasick.


““I couldn’t lift my head for days,” A I couldn’t lift my head for days,” A Czech immigrant later recalled. “I Czech immigrant later recalled. “I

thought I would never see the United thought I would never see the United States.”States.”


In good weather, children were In good weather, children were allowed to play on deck, running allowed to play on deck, running among the young people who sat among the young people who sat there singing and flirting with each there singing and flirting with each other.other.

But when, as so often was the case, But when, as so often was the case, the weather turned bad and the the weather turned bad and the immigrants were indeed “tempest-immigrants were indeed “tempest-tost”, they were unable to get up onto tost”, they were unable to get up onto the deck to vomit overboard.the deck to vomit overboard.


In stormy weather, the steerage In stormy weather, the steerage hatchway door was locked and then hatchway door was locked and then tied shut, to make sure that no tied shut, to make sure that no passenger reach the deck and got passenger reach the deck and got swept overboard.swept overboard.

Since the only drinking water available Since the only drinking water available was on deck, was on deck, __________________________________________________________________________________________________.________________________________.

Stormy WeatherStormy Weather


Sleeping in SteerageSleeping in Steerage 2 or 3 tiers of bunks, equipped with 2 or 3 tiers of bunks, equipped with

meager mattresses and populated by lice.meager mattresses and populated by lice. ________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________._____________________________. Women traveling with babies, made sure Women traveling with babies, made sure

they got a lower bunk.they got a lower bunk. It was difficult to sleep at all. Directly It was difficult to sleep at all. Directly

beneath them, the noisy engine was beneath them, the noisy engine was constantly pounding.constantly pounding.


Arriving in New York Arriving in New York Harbor!Harbor!


Eventually, the water calmed as the ship Eventually, the water calmed as the ship steamed into New York harbor.steamed into New York harbor.

To prepare for landing, steerage To prepare for landing, steerage passengers got dressed in their finest passengers got dressed in their finest clothes.clothes.

From the harbor, the steamship sailed up From the harbor, the steamship sailed up the Hudson to a pier where first and the Hudson to a pier where first and second-class passengers, usually second-class passengers, usually natives returning home, debarked. natives returning home, debarked.


Their passage through immigration Their passage through immigration was quick and courteous.was quick and courteous.

While these passengers where being While these passengers where being cleared off the boat, steerage cleared off the boat, steerage passengers passengers ________________________________.________________________________.


Working a 12-hour day, Ellis Island Working a 12-hour day, Ellis Island employees could process __________ employees could process __________ immigrants.immigrants.

But some days, 2 or 3 times that many But some days, 2 or 3 times that many arrived and had to wait on board the arrived and had to wait on board the ships that they traveled in.ships that they traveled in.


Finally DebarkingFinally Debarking

Immigrants were harshly commanded Immigrants were harshly commanded to hurry.to hurry.

Bulky in their layers of clothing, Bulky in their layers of clothing, carrying infants, bedding, pots and carrying infants, bedding, pots and pans, even cuttings from a home pans, even cuttings from a home vineyard to plant in America, they vineyard to plant in America, they scrambled from the ship.scrambled from the ship.

““Good Riddance – Glad to leave it!!!”Good Riddance – Glad to leave it!!!”


““My mother had to try and keep track of My mother had to try and keep track of us and tied us all together so that we us and tied us all together so that we would stay together. And that’s the would stay together. And that’s the

way we came off the boat.”way we came off the boat.”

- Gertrude Schneider Smith, a Swiss - Gertrude Schneider Smith, a Swiss immigrant in 1921.immigrant in 1921.


““Getting off on Ellis Island, my mother Getting off on Ellis Island, my mother was dressed up. She had been was dressed up. She had been

making this suit for a year to land in. making this suit for a year to land in. And I was dressed up with handmade And I was dressed up with handmade lace and all. It was jam-packed with lace and all. It was jam-packed with

mostly Europeans. And most of these mostly Europeans. And most of these people were dirty, actually dirty. I was people were dirty, actually dirty. I was

terrified.”terrified.”-Ayleen Watts James, a Panamanian -Ayleen Watts James, a Panamanian

immigrant in 1923immigrant in 1923


They boarded the ferry that would They boarded the ferry that would transport them to Ellis Island.transport them to Ellis Island.

Before the ferry moved, however, they Before the ferry moved, however, they were required to wait again.were required to wait again.

An enormous crowd of them waiting 1 An enormous crowd of them waiting 1 hour, 2 hours, or even much longer.hour, 2 hours, or even much longer.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.________________________________.


WorryingWorrying During all the hours they were waiting During all the hours they were waiting

on the ferry, there was plenty of time on the ferry, there was plenty of time to _______________:to _______________: Will I get in?Will I get in? Will Will allall of us get in? of us get in? Even the child who keeps rubbing her Even the child who keeps rubbing her

eyes?eyes? Will we find a place to live?Will we find a place to live? Will I find work?Will I find work?


When immigrants were not obsessed When immigrants were not obsessed with such worries, they had plenty of with such worries, they had plenty of time to rehearse their answers to the time to rehearse their answers to the questions they knew would soon be questions they knew would soon be asked of them.asked of them. ““I am a tailor.”I am a tailor.” ““I am a carpenter.”I am a carpenter.” ““My husband will meet me.”My husband will meet me.” ““No, I do not have a job waiting for me.”No, I do not have a job waiting for me.” ““I have 23 rubles with me.”I have 23 rubles with me.” ““No, I did not buy my own ticket myself, my No, I did not buy my own ticket myself, my

uncle sent it to me. My uncle lives in uncle sent it to me. My uncle lives in Chicago.”Chicago.”


Landing on Ellis IslandLanding on Ellis Island

Finally, landing on the island, Finally, landing on the island, immigrants were lined up in front of the immigrants were lined up in front of the main door, to stand under an enormous main door, to stand under an enormous metal canopy that was about 50 ft. wide.metal canopy that was about 50 ft. wide.

Manifest lists Manifest lists Immigrants waiting to enter the building Immigrants waiting to enter the building

were formed into groups by manifest were formed into groups by manifest numbers.numbers.


Directly inside the entrance there was Directly inside the entrance there was a stairway.a stairway.

Immigrants could leave heavy Immigrants could leave heavy baggage on the ground floor while baggage on the ground floor while they went upstairs for questioning and they went upstairs for questioning and processing.processing.

They left their baggage with a prayer They left their baggage with a prayer for its safety; for its safety; ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.________________________________.


PrayingPraying A great many prayers were recited on A great many prayers were recited on

that stairway, God, the Virgin Mary, that stairway, God, the Virgin Mary, and various saints were implored to:and various saints were implored to: Watch over the safety of their luggageWatch over the safety of their luggage To blind officials to the immigrants’ flawsTo blind officials to the immigrants’ flaws To open their eyes to the immigrants’ To open their eyes to the immigrants’

virtuesvirtues To bring the immigrants to their final To bring the immigrants to their final

destinations.destinations.


At the top of the stairway, they could At the top of the stairway, they could ______________________________. ______________________________.

After a slow and laborious climb, After a slow and laborious climb, immigrants finally reached the Great immigrants finally reached the Great Hall of Judgment.Hall of Judgment.

50 ft. high & thronged with people 50 ft. high & thronged with people moving slowly ahead along aisles moving slowly ahead along aisles separated from each other by iron separated from each other by iron railings.railings.



Children and BabiesChildren and Babies

Babies could be carried, but if a child Babies could be carried, but if a child had reached the age of two, he/she had reached the age of two, he/she had to walk by him/herself to prove had to walk by him/herself to prove that he/she they could.that he/she they could.

Bored with waiting, children chinned Bored with waiting, children chinned themselves on the iron bars.themselves on the iron bars.

They ducked in and out under iron They ducked in and out under iron railings, despite orders not to.railings, despite orders not to.


Children and babies had to undergo a scalp Children and babies had to undergo a scalp inspection.inspection.

Adolescents and adults had their eyes, Adolescents and adults had their eyes, ears, limbs checked for health. ears, limbs checked for health.

Those who did not pass, received a big Those who did not pass, received a big white “X” written in chalk on their chest.white “X” written in chalk on their chest.

They would go to a different section for They would go to a different section for further medical testing.further medical testing.

If they failed again, If they failed again, _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________._____________________________________.




““We were on Ellis Island 22 days. They We were on Ellis Island 22 days. They took all us men to one section of the took all us men to one section of the

room, and they stripped us. They took room, and they stripped us. They took all our clothes and they only left our all our clothes and they only left our

papers in our hands. We went through papers in our hands. We went through something like a cattle booth. At all of something like a cattle booth. At all of these booths there was a doctor who these booths there was a doctor who

examined you. If you were a sick examined you. If you were a sick person, they told you to wait. If you were person, they told you to wait. If you were alright, you continued with the rest of the alright, you continued with the rest of the examination. They looked at your whole examination. They looked at your whole

body – the eyes, the heart, the teeth. body – the eyes, the heart, the teeth. They brought us They brought us


into a big hall. All of a sudden they called into a big hall. All of a sudden they called your name and your clothes appeared. All your name and your clothes appeared. All

clean and packed and smelling nice. clean and packed and smelling nice. Because, to tell you the truth, I’ve got to be Because, to tell you the truth, I’ve got to be

honest about it, they deloused us. As I honest about it, they deloused us. As I said, the ship we came over on wasn’t a said, the ship we came over on wasn’t a clean ship. You couldn’t clean yourself clean ship. You couldn’t clean yourself

anyway because even the water from the anyway because even the water from the fountains was frozen. In order to drink fountains was frozen. In order to drink

some water we had to break the ice with some water we had to break the ice with something and melt it. So how can you something and melt it. So how can you

keep yourself clean?”keep yourself clean?”

- Rocco Morelli, Italian immigrant at Ellis - Rocco Morelli, Italian immigrant at Ellis Island in 1907, age 12.Island in 1907, age 12.


The Dining RoomThe Dining Room The food may have been plentiful, it may The food may have been plentiful, it may

have tasted alright, but still, in those early have tasted alright, but still, in those early years, it left much to be desired.years, it left much to be desired.

The dining room was filthy and dinner The dining room was filthy and dinner bowls were used again and again without bowls were used again and again without being washed.being washed.

Finally, after 1901, Theodore Roosevelt Finally, after 1901, Theodore Roosevelt ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.____________________________________.


““No charge for meals here” said a No charge for meals here” said a sign on the dining room wall.sign on the dining room wall.

That comforting message was That comforting message was translated into numerous languages.translated into numerous languages.

After 1901, immigrants were fed well. After 1901, immigrants were fed well. They were served white bread which was They were served white bread which was

totally new to them, tapioca pudding, and totally new to them, tapioca pudding, and most astonishing of all bananas which most astonishing of all bananas which they had to be taught to peel.they had to be taught to peel.


““So when I came to Ellis Island, my gosh, So when I came to Ellis Island, my gosh, there was something I’ll never forget. The there was something I’ll never forget. The first impression – all kinds of nationalities. first impression – all kinds of nationalities. And the first meal we got, fish and milk. Big And the first meal we got, fish and milk. Big

pitchers of milk and white bread, the first pitchers of milk and white bread, the first time I saw white bread and butter. There time I saw white bread and butter. There

was so much milk and I drank it because we was so much milk and I drank it because we didn’t have enough milk in my country. And didn’t have enough milk in my country. And I said ‘my God, we’re going to have a good I said ‘my God, we’re going to have a good time here. We’re going to have plenty to time here. We’re going to have plenty to

eat.’”eat.’”

- Marta Forman, Czechoslovakian at Ellis - Marta Forman, Czechoslovakian at Ellis Island, 1922Island, 1922


Passing Inspection!Passing Inspection!

After leaving the primary inspection & After leaving the primary inspection & answering all the questions as well as answering all the questions as well as going through medical examinations, going through medical examinations, immigrants went back to the baggage immigrants went back to the baggage room to pick up their belongings.room to pick up their belongings.

Then they proceeded to a room where Then they proceeded to a room where a sign said “Money Exchange” in a sign said “Money Exchange” in many different languages.many different languages.



With their papers stamped at the With their papers stamped at the primary inspector’s desk, immigrants primary inspector’s desk, immigrants were now free to enter the United were now free to enter the United States.States.

At this point, some immigrants went At this point, some immigrants went ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.________________________________.


Or they themselves took a boat over Or they themselves took a boat over to Manhattan where they could go to Manhattan where they could go directly to the subway.directly to the subway.


““When my father, who was 2 years old, When my father, who was 2 years old, arrived in Boston, the relative who met arrived in Boston, the relative who met him and my grandmother, scooped off him and my grandmother, scooped off

the European-style schoolboy’s cap the European-style schoolboy’s cap he was wearing – only greenhorns he was wearing – only greenhorns dressed like that!- and flung it into dressed like that!- and flung it into

Boston Harbor.”Boston Harbor.”

-the son of a Polish immigrant.-the son of a Polish immigrant.


Sometimes children were meeting a Sometimes children were meeting a parent for the first time because he parent for the first time because he had come to America earlier:had come to America earlier:

““I saw this man coming forward and he I saw this man coming forward and he was beautiful. I didn’t know he was was beautiful. I didn’t know he was

my father. Later on I realized why he my father. Later on I realized why he looked so familiar to me. He looked looked so familiar to me. He looked exactly like I did. But that’s when I exactly like I did. But that’s when I

met him for the first time. And I fell in met him for the first time. And I fell in love with him and he with me.”love with him and he with me.”

- Katherine Beychok, a Russian Jewish - Katherine Beychok, a Russian Jewish immigrant in 1910.immigrant in 1910.


All Photographs & quotes courtesy of:All Photographs & quotes courtesy of:

Moreno, Barry. Moreno, Barry. Encyclopedia of Ellis IslandEncyclopedia of Ellis Island; 2004, Greenwood ; 2004, Greenwood Publishing; New York, NYPublishing; New York, NY

Sherman, Augustus F. Sherman, Augustus F. Ellis Island Portraits, 1905 – 1920Ellis Island Portraits, 1905 – 1920; 2005, Aperture ; 2005, Aperture Publishing; New York, NYPublishing; New York, NY

The Library of Congress: The Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/070_immi.htmlhttp://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/070_immi.html

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OwlTeacher.com Ellis Island & Immigration. OwlTeacher.com The Trip Across the Ocean ___________________________ Shipping-line ads promised a six-day