Ellis Island From Europe to The Golden Door

Americas Premier Immigration Station 1890 – Federal Government establishes Bureau of Immigration & selects Ellis Island as site of new immigration station for port of New York 1890 – Federal Government establishes Bureau of Immigration & selects Ellis Island as site of new immigration station for port of New York 1892 – Ellis Island opens it doors January – Ellis Island opens it doors January – Fire destroys original wood buildings 1897 – Fire destroys original wood buildings 1900 – Ellis Island re-opens in its present Beaux- Art style 1900 – Ellis Island re-opens in its present Beaux- Art style

100 Million Americans Can Trace Ancestry to Ellis Island 12 Million pass through from 1892 – Million pass through from 1892 – 1954 Peak years from 1892 – 1924 Peak years from 1892 – ,747 processed on one day ,747 processed on one day 1907 Quotas begin to restrict immigrants 1924 Quotas begin to restrict immigrants 1924 Used as detention center for enemy aliens 1943 Used as detention center for enemy aliens 1943 Closes doors 1954 Closes doors 1954

Saving Ellis Island 1965 – Taken over by National Park Service 1965 – Taken over by National Park Service 1974 – Restore Ellis Island committee formed 1974 – Restore Ellis Island committee formed 1983 – Restoration begins 1983 – Restoration begins 1990 – Ellis Island Immigration Museum opens September – Ellis Island Immigration Museum opens September Ellis Island Centennial Ellis Island Centennial

First Wave of Immigration 1830s / 1850s – Northwestern Europeans flee starvation, feudal governments & social upheaval from the Industrial Revolution. They came here from: 1830s / 1850s – Northwestern Europeans flee starvation, feudal governments & social upheaval from the Industrial Revolution. They came here from: Ireland Ireland Germany Germany Scandinavia Scandinavia As well as China As well as China

Second Wave of Immigration A Flood-Tide from Eastern & Southern Europe A Flood-Tide from Eastern & Southern Europe Fleeing burdens of high taxes, poverty & overpopulation, oppression & religious persecution Fleeing burdens of high taxes, poverty & overpopulation, oppression & religious persecution

Second Wave of Immigration A Monumental Decision A Monumental Decision Leaving Family & Friends Leaving Family & Friends Maybe to Never See Them Again Maybe to Never See Them Again & Begin a New Life in America & Begin a New Life in America

The Ships Manifest Before Boarding Ship, Each Passenger was Subjected to De-Lousing & Questioning Before Boarding Ship, Each Passenger was Subjected to De-Lousing & Questioning A Series of 29 Questions were Asked A Series of 29 Questions were Asked Answers were Written on the Ships Manifest Answers were Written on the Ships Manifest In English In English Documenting Information for Genealogists Today Documenting Information for Genealogists Today

The Ships Manifest

Leaving Europe for America $12.00 Ticket $12.00 Ticket Day Journey Day Journey 3 rd Class Steerage 3 rd Class Steerage Crude Conditions Crude Conditions

Onboard Ship

End of the Journey Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor. Your Huddled Masses Yearning to Breathe Free, The Wretched Refuse of Your Teeming Shore… Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor. Your Huddled Masses Yearning to Breathe Free, The Wretched Refuse of Your Teeming Shore… We'll take your trash!! We'll take your trash!!

Arrival At Ellis Island Transferred from Ship to the Island via Ferry Transferred from Ship to the Island via Ferry Sometimes Waiting for Hours to be Moved Sometimes Waiting for Hours to be Moved And Reach the Golden Door to America And Reach the Golden Door to America

Welcome to America!

The Waiting Room

The Great Hall

The Waiting Is Over Now began a series of tests that would determine your fate Now began a series of tests that would determine your fate Only 2 % were sent back Only 2 % were sent back 2% of 12 Million 2% of 12 Million Would you like to have 2% of $12 Million Dollars? Would you like to have 2% of $12 Million Dollars?

The Inspection Line

The Medical Exam Medical Inspectors watched the people & marked them with chalk Medical Inspectors watched the people & marked them with chalk The exam was frightening & embarrassing The exam was frightening & embarrassing Many varied ailments could send you home Many varied ailments could send you home

Chalk Marks Used at Ellis Island X – Suspected Mental Defect X – Suspected Mental Defect Circled X- Definite Signs of Mental Defects Circled X- Definite Signs of Mental Defects B – Black B – Black C- Conjunctivitis C- Conjunctivitis CT – Trachoma CT – Trachoma E- Eyes E- Eyes F- Face F- Face Ft- Feet Ft- Feet G- Goiter G- Goiter H- Heart H- Heart K- Hernia K- Hernia N- Neck N- Neck L- Lameness L- Lameness P- Physical & Lungs P- Physical & Lungs PG- Pregnancy PG- Pregnancy SC- Scalp SC- Scalp S- Senility S- Senility SI- Special Inquiry SI- Special Inquiry

The Eye Exam Eyes were special treatment Eyes were special treatment Each person had their eyes examined, usually with a hook to flip them up. Each person had their eyes examined, usually with a hook to flip them up. They were looking for Trachoma They were looking for Trachoma

Trachoma & Fauves Trachoma & Fauves were the 2 main diseases that would send you home Trachoma & Fauves were the 2 main diseases that would send you home Fauves is a skin fungus Fauves is a skin fungus Trachoma is a version of Pink Eye Trachoma is a version of Pink Eye

The Questions Asked a Series of 29 Questions Asked a Series of 29 Questions The Same as Were Asked Before Leaving Europe The Same as Were Asked Before Leaving Europe To See if Your Story Remained the Same To See if Your Story Remained the Same

The Mental Exam Immigrants who Looked Out of the Ordinary Were Given Mental Exams Immigrants who Looked Out of the Ordinary Were Given Mental Exams If You Failed the Exams (3 Chances), You Were Deported If You Failed the Exams (3 Chances), You Were Deported Or Sent to DC to Become a Congressman Or Sent to DC to Become a Congressman

Making it Once All the Testing Was Done, You Were Allowed to Leave the Island & Become an American Once All the Testing Was Done, You Were Allowed to Leave the Island & Become an American Or Become a Bird of Passage Or Become a Bird of Passage

The Streets Are Paved with Gold I came here believing the streets were paved with gold. I came here believing the streets were paved with gold. I found out the streets werent paved at all, I found out the streets werent paved at all, And I was expected to pave them! And I was expected to pave them!

Nativist Resistance

Too Many Undesirables The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 effectively ends Chinese immigration The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 effectively ends Chinese immigration A growing Nativist movement grips the nation A growing Nativist movement grips the nation WWI & the Russian Revolution promotes Xenophobia WWI & the Russian Revolution promotes Xenophobia

Limiting Immigration Quota system instituted in 1922 Quota system instituted in 1922 Limits immigrants to a percentage of ethnic group already in the U.S. Limits immigrants to a percentage of ethnic group already in the U.S. Favors desirable immigrants over others Favors desirable immigrants over others

America, The Melting Pot Our Unique Blend of Ethnicity has Resulted in a New & Distinct Culture Amongst the Nations of the World Our Unique Blend of Ethnicity has Resulted in a New & Distinct Culture Amongst the Nations of the World Are We Really a Melting Pot? Are We Really a Melting Pot? Or More Like A Tossed Salad? Or More Like A Tossed Salad?

Ethnic Diversity Builds a Nation

Every Culture Contributed

To Make Us What We Are Today

Tracing Your Family History Search Passenger records Search Passenger records Add a Relatives Name to the Wall of Honor Add a Relatives Name to the Wall of Honor

The End