July 2024

Tracing Roots: Ellis Island Explored

 Ellis Island (The New York Public Library Digital Collection)

BEYOND THE GOLDEN DOOR

By Maria Rubtsova

Ellis Island opened its doors as an immigration station on January 1, 1892. Until closing in 1954 this ‘Isle of Tears’ or ‘Golden Door’ to new world processed over 12 million immigrants. Ellis Island profoundly impacted both the lives of the immigrants it encountered and the nation they came to call home. Today, it's estimated that around 40 percent of Americans can trace at least one ancestor through Ellis Island. Despite its significant role in American history, many aspects of Ellis Island are shrouded in myths rather than reality.

Statue of Annie and her two brothers in Cobh, Ireland.

Interpreter and recorder interviewing newcomers (The New York Public Library Digital Collection)

Ellis Island name change myth  

 A persistent myth is that Ellis Island officials frequently changed or shortened immigrants' names. In reality, officials did not write down names; they checked them against ship manifests prepared at the point of departure. Though some immigrants adopted new names before leaving Europe and these names appeared on the ship manifest, most changed their names as they settled into their new American lives, often to assimilate or avoid discrimination. This means that the name alteration, which frequently irritates and confounds people attempting to trace their family history, was done by the travelers themselves or by members of their family.

The pens at Ellis Island, the Registry Room (The New York Public Library Digital Collection)

Long lines and processing times  

Upon arrival, first- and second-class passengers were cleared onboard, while steerage passengers (the lowest category of passenger accommodation on steamships) were taken to Ellis Island for processing. Wearing numbered tags that matched a page of the ship’s manifest, they moved from the Baggage Room to the Registry Room. Public Health Service doctors performed a “six-second physical” while they climbed the stairs, looking for signs of illness. At its peak in 1907, Ellis Island processed up to 11,000 immigrants a day, with inspectors handling 400-500 people daily, averaging less than a minute per person. Even during these days of peak immigration most immigrants completed the process in 4-7 hours unless they required further inspection.  

Immigrants being served a free meal at Ellis Island (The New York Public Library Digital Collection) 

“The Island of Tears”: detention and separation  

Depending on the day, 10 to 20 percent were held for health or legal reasons. Women and children without escorts, stowaways, and those deemed likely to become public charges (someone who relies heavily on government assistance for their basic needs) were among those detained. Sick immigrants were sent to the hospital, where most recovered, but over 3,500 immigrants died. More than 350 babies were born on Ellis Island. Sometimes families got separated, and anxious parents waited weeks to be reunited with their children. Despite strict guidelines, only about 2 percent of the 12 million immigrants were denied entry, primarily for health reasons or concerns they might become public charges.  

Ellis Island left behind a legacy that shaped the lives of countless American families. If you would like to learn more about Ellis Island, the resources used in this article can be found below. 

RESOURCES:

Her name is on a pub, a boat and an AI platform. But what happened to the Irish teen who arrived at Ellis Island in 1892? (an article By Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN) 

GovDocs to the Rescue! Debunking an Immigration Myth (DttP: Documents to the People - the official publication of the American Library Association (ALA)) 

Understanding Your Ancestor’s Experience at Ellis Island (David Fryxell's article from FamilyTree magazine) 

History.com/news/9-things-you-may-not-know-about-ellis-island (from history.com) 

LEARN HOW TO TRACE YOUR ELLIS ISLAND ANCESTORS:

• You can access the ship passenger records from 1892 to 1924 at the Port of New York for free at Ellis Island's website. Copies of ship manifests, ship’s pictures, and other family heritage documents are available for purchase. 

• This blog also provides some information on how to locate records of immigrants who went through Ellis Island either online or at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum: How To Find Your Ancestors at Ellis Island: A Beginner’s Guide 

• You can find helpful tips, tutorials, and recommendations for learning more about the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and your family heritage there: Educational Recourses 

• A greatly beneficial short video on how to do passenger search at the Ellis Island website can be found here: Passenger Search Tutorial. 

• Genealogy at a Glance: Ellis Island Research  by Sharon Carmack

In just four pages genealogist Sharon Carmack offers guidance through Ellis Island records along with a list of books for further reference and online resources. Reference copy available at library.



• Ellis Island: a people's history by Małgorzata Szejnert 

Award-winning journalist Małgorzata Szejnert draws on unpublished testimonies, memoirs, archival photographs, and correspondence from many internees and immigrants, including Russians, Italians, Jews, Japanese, Germans, and Poles. 

HERE ARE SOME FAMOUS AMERICANS WHO IMMIGRATED THROUGH ELLIS ISLAND: 



Isaac Asimov (Isaak Yudovich Ozimov) 

Arrived from Russia in 1923 

Acclaimed science fiction writer and biochemist, known for works such as the "Foundation" series and "I, Robot." 

Irving Berlin (Israel Beilin)  

Arrived from Russia in 1893  

Prolific composer and lyricist, famous for songs like "White Christmas" and "God Bless America." 

Claudette Colbert (Émilie Claudette Chauchoin) 

Arrived in 1911 from France 

Award-winning actress, famous for her roles in "It Happened One Night" and other Hollywood classics. 

Max Factor (Maksymilian Faktorowicz) 

Arrived in 1904 from Poland (then part of the Russian Empire) 

Renowned cosmetics entrepreneur, founder of the Max Factor brand, and a pioneer in the development of modern makeup for film and everyday use. 

Felix Frankfurter (Felix Frankfurter) 

Arrived in 1894 from Austria 

Influential jurist and Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, serving from 1939 to 1962. 

Cary Grant (Archibald Alexander Leach) 

Arrived in 1920 from United Kingdom 

Celebrated actor, known for his suave demeanor and roles in films like "North by Northwest" and "To Catch a Thief." 

Elia Kazan (Elia Kazantzoglou) 

Arrived in 1913 from Greece 

Influential director and actor, known for directing classics such as "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "On the Waterfront." 

Hyman G. Rickover (Chaim Godalia Rickover) 

Arrived in 1906 from Poland 

Admiral in the U.S. Navy, known as the "Father of the Nuclear Navy" for his work in developing nuclear-powered submarines. 

Johnny Weissmuller (János Weissmüller) 

Arrived in 1905 from Austria-Hungary (present-day Romania) 

Olympic gold medalist swimmer and actor, best known for his role as Tarzan in the 1930s and 1940s films. 

Claude McKay (Festus Claudius McKay)  

Arrived in 1921 from Jamaica  

Writer and poet associated with the Harlem Renaissance, known for his powerful poems addressing racial and social issues. 

A complete list of notable Ellis Island immigrants can be found here.