A New System
The newly built Ellis Island, 1892
Under the Immigration Act of 1891, the Federal Government assumed control of immigration in America on April 18, 1890 and Congress appropriated $75,000 to construct the station, doubling the size of the island to over 6 acres.
Ellis Island was America's first federally operated immigration station. From 1892 to 1924, it was America's largest and most active immigration station where over 12 million immigrants were processed.
Ellis Island was America's first federally operated immigration station. From 1892 to 1924, it was America's largest and most active immigration station where over 12 million immigrants were processed.
PROCESSING AT ELLIS ISLAND
On average, the inspection process took approximately 3-7 hours. Immigrants went through six second inspections by uniformed military surgeons which included the use of the button hook to examine for signs of eye diseases and the use of a chalk mark code:
C - Conjunctivitis
B - Back CT - Trachoma E - Eyes F - Face FT - Feet G - Goiter H - Heart K - Hernia |
M - Vaginal Infection
N - Neck P - Physical and Lungs Pg - Pregnancy S - Senility Sc - Scalp (Favus) SI - Special Inquiry X - Suspected Mental Defect X (circled) - Definite signs of mental disease |
Source: National Park Service: Ellis Island via New York Architecture
The doctors were specifically watching for signs of contagious diseases, poor physique, pregnancy and mental disability. Immigrants with illnesses were sent to the Ellis Island Hospital, which opened on December 17, 1900 and was the largest marine hospital in the nation. Every newcomer also underwent examination and a face to face interview by U.S. Immigrant Inspectors at Ellis Island.
Ellis Island Staff, 1920
Writer Louis Adamic came to America from Slovenia in southeastern Europe in 1913 and described the night he spent on bunk beds in a huge hall. Lacking a warm blanket, the young man "shivered, sleepless, all night, listening to snores" and dreams "in perhaps a dozen different languages." The facility was so large that the dining room could seat 1,000 people.
Click to enlarge photographs.
All photographs on this page are from the book "Ellis Island Interviews; In Their Own Words." By Peter M. Coan.
All photographs on this page are from the book "Ellis Island Interviews; In Their Own Words." By Peter M. Coan.