Processing in the 19th century
Arrival/ Entry to America for 1st and 2nd class passengers
The first glimpse of America many of the passengers saw was the Statue of Liberty.
Once the ships arrived in New York they would dock at the Hudson River or the East River piers. For first and second class passengers they were inspected on the ship or upon arrival, the theory being that if these people had the ability to purchase a first or second class ticket then they would not become a “hassle” for America later on. These passengers did not have to go through inspection at Ellis Island, though on the unlikely chance that a first or second class passenger was sick or had legal troubles then they would be sent off to Ellis Island for further inspection (Ellis Island History, 2008-2010), (Orelus) & (Welcome to immigration, 2012).
Once the ships arrived in New York they would dock at the Hudson River or the East River piers. For first and second class passengers they were inspected on the ship or upon arrival, the theory being that if these people had the ability to purchase a first or second class ticket then they would not become a “hassle” for America later on. These passengers did not have to go through inspection at Ellis Island, though on the unlikely chance that a first or second class passenger was sick or had legal troubles then they would be sent off to Ellis Island for further inspection (Ellis Island History, 2008-2010), (Orelus) & (Welcome to immigration, 2012).
Processing at Ellis Island
Ellis Island Luggage Room (Wilkes)
Ellis Island opened its door to receive immigrants in 1892, where once immigrants came
into Ellis Island there was a procedure that every immigrant had to go through before they entered into America. Immigrants disembarked at either the Hudson River or East River piers where they were then put onto ferries which would then
take them to Ellis Island ("Arrival at Ellis,"). Once passengers came off the ferry boat people would come off onto the pier where officers would be waiting to tag the passenger with their name, address, country of origin, etc. Soon after being tagged all immigrants would be led to the baggage room within the building where they would leave their belongings until after they were inspected (Manny)& (Welcome to immigration, 2012). After leaving their baggage they began the inspection process. As soon as people would walk up the first flight of stairs doctors would watch from the second floor as they walked up. Doctors at this point in time would watch to see whether they were physically healthy even before the actual medical inspection began ("A virtual field,").
into Ellis Island there was a procedure that every immigrant had to go through before they entered into America. Immigrants disembarked at either the Hudson River or East River piers where they were then put onto ferries which would then
take them to Ellis Island ("Arrival at Ellis,"). Once passengers came off the ferry boat people would come off onto the pier where officers would be waiting to tag the passenger with their name, address, country of origin, etc. Soon after being tagged all immigrants would be led to the baggage room within the building where they would leave their belongings until after they were inspected (Manny)& (Welcome to immigration, 2012). After leaving their baggage they began the inspection process. As soon as people would walk up the first flight of stairs doctors would watch from the second floor as they walked up. Doctors at this point in time would watch to see whether they were physically healthy even before the actual medical inspection began ("A virtual field,").
1st: The Great Room
middle: Doctor chceking for tauchoma
Last: Legal Questioning
Once up the stairs they were now within the registry room or the “Great Hall” where immigrants would wait in lines until they came to the doctor’s conducting “six second physicals” (Ellis Island History, 2008–2010).
Through these physicals doctors were looking at their walking, breathing,
problems with their heart, infectious diseases and even mental illnesses. If at any point someone was found to have a medical condition or infectious diseases then they were marked and pulled out of the line where they would have to be reexamined. If they passed the medical exam the person would walk to the end of the hall to an officer who would ask them legal questions such as where they were from, what their occupation was or if they were convicted of any crime(s) among many other questions. Officers were given a manifest that was taken on the ship of each passenger; this manifest was used to see if an immigrant’s answer differed from what they had answered previously on the ship. If their answers did differ than they would be detained for further questioning. It wasn’t until 1924 that immigrants had to also get a medical and legal inspection back in their countries of origin before they arrived in America (Welcome to immigration, 2012) & (Ellis Island History, 2008–2010). Medical and legal inspections were quite quick questioning on the other hand took anywhere from three to five hours and most of that time was spent waiting in line. During 1903 to 1924 immigrants were now being checked for a contagious eye disease called trachoma, but it must be noted that only 10% of immigrants were sent back to their countries due to health problems (Welcome to immigration, 2012). After having been checked immigrants were separated, once they got to the “stairs of separation” where if you were told to take the middle stairs meant they were being detained at Ellis Island.
Through these physicals doctors were looking at their walking, breathing,
problems with their heart, infectious diseases and even mental illnesses. If at any point someone was found to have a medical condition or infectious diseases then they were marked and pulled out of the line where they would have to be reexamined. If they passed the medical exam the person would walk to the end of the hall to an officer who would ask them legal questions such as where they were from, what their occupation was or if they were convicted of any crime(s) among many other questions. Officers were given a manifest that was taken on the ship of each passenger; this manifest was used to see if an immigrant’s answer differed from what they had answered previously on the ship. If their answers did differ than they would be detained for further questioning. It wasn’t until 1924 that immigrants had to also get a medical and legal inspection back in their countries of origin before they arrived in America (Welcome to immigration, 2012) & (Ellis Island History, 2008–2010). Medical and legal inspections were quite quick questioning on the other hand took anywhere from three to five hours and most of that time was spent waiting in line. During 1903 to 1924 immigrants were now being checked for a contagious eye disease called trachoma, but it must be noted that only 10% of immigrants were sent back to their countries due to health problems (Welcome to immigration, 2012). After having been checked immigrants were separated, once they got to the “stairs of separation” where if you were told to take the middle stairs meant they were being detained at Ellis Island.
Detainees
Ellis Island Dormatories
There were cases of people having to be detained on Ellis Island whether it be for
medical or legal reasons, though for most people who were detained they only
stayed for one night. Detainees were held on the third floor of Ellis Island where one side was for men and the other side was for women and children, each side had restrooms, water, and never ending cots to sleep on. There were times where someone would have to wait weeks or months at Ellis Island waiting to be seen in the hearing room where a special Inquiry board would review the person’s health or the reason they were detained. If after being reviewed a person was turned away and could not enter the United States then they were taken home free of charge and if you were under 16 years then a family member could also travel with them free of charge (Welcome to immigration, 2012) & ("Detained: Ellis island,").Though if a person was to take the stairs to the far right then they were cleared and were traveling west or south, if they were told the stairs to the left then it would lead you to New York City or north ("Reliving the Ellis," 2004). At the bottom of either
of these two stairs there was a post office, ticket booths to get on a train, as well as an office to exchange money. To enter America starting in 1909 a person had to be able to show financial security by possessing $20. Once a person came down one of those two stair cases they free to come into the United States (A virtual field,) & (Welcome to immigration, 2012).
*All pictures found on this page can be credited to The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc./National Park Service
medical or legal reasons, though for most people who were detained they only
stayed for one night. Detainees were held on the third floor of Ellis Island where one side was for men and the other side was for women and children, each side had restrooms, water, and never ending cots to sleep on. There were times where someone would have to wait weeks or months at Ellis Island waiting to be seen in the hearing room where a special Inquiry board would review the person’s health or the reason they were detained. If after being reviewed a person was turned away and could not enter the United States then they were taken home free of charge and if you were under 16 years then a family member could also travel with them free of charge (Welcome to immigration, 2012) & ("Detained: Ellis island,").Though if a person was to take the stairs to the far right then they were cleared and were traveling west or south, if they were told the stairs to the left then it would lead you to New York City or north ("Reliving the Ellis," 2004). At the bottom of either
of these two stairs there was a post office, ticket booths to get on a train, as well as an office to exchange money. To enter America starting in 1909 a person had to be able to show financial security by possessing $20. Once a person came down one of those two stair cases they free to come into the United States (A virtual field,) & (Welcome to immigration, 2012).
*All pictures found on this page can be credited to The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc./National Park Service