The Immigrant Journey - Ellis Island National Monument

Although more than 12 million people passed through Ellis Island on their way to the promise of a better life in America, they walked through its gates one at a time, individual by individual. Once the decision to leave had been made, what was the journey like?

----SNIP-- After the 1893 U.S. immigration law went into effect, each passenger had to answer up to 31 questions (recorded on manifest lists) BEFORE boarding the ship. These questions included, among others: name, age, sex, marital status, occupation, nationality, ability to read or write, race, physical and mental health, last residence, and the name and address of the nearest relative or friend in the immigrant’s country of origin. Immigrants were asked whether they had at least $25; whether they had ever been in prison, an almshouse, or an institution; or if they were polygamists or anarchists.

Steamship lines were also held accountable for medical examinations of the immigrants BEFORE departing the port.

I was researching family genology and discovered this article on how the immigrants entering Ellis Island were screened. One of the most interesting thing is that the immigrants were screened for medication conditions BEFORE leaving port.
Here are some other interesting tidbits:
* Only steerage passengers were processed at Ellis Island. First- and second-class passengers were quickly and courteously “inspected” onboard the ship BEFOREbeing transferred to New York.

* Medical inspectors boarded incoming ships in the quarantine area at the entrance to the Lower Bay of New York Harbor.The quarantine examination was conducted aboard ship and reserved for first- or second-class cabin passenger.

* Interpreters led groups through the main doorway and directed them up a steep stairway to the Registry Room. Although they did not realize it, the immigrants were already taking their first test: A doctor stood at the top of the stairs watching for signs of lameness, heavy breathing that might indicate a heart condition or “bewildered gazes” that might be symptomatic of a mental condition. As each immigrant passed, a doctor, with an interpreter at his side, would examine the immigrant’s face, hair, neck and hands.

One of my ancestors traveled alone age 16 from Europe on a sailing ship. Alone..at 16 to America for freedom from Napoleon and the Czar of Russia and a better life. He made it and thanks to him, so did I and all my family.

I found the passenger records for their arrival when I went to the National Archives many years ago. I did find them listed at the link you provided too. It shows them arriving in 1913, but since I loaned our family info to my sister-in-law, I don’t have the copies here to check the date. I could be a year off on their arrival.

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