Approximately 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island between 1892-1954. Most people experienced a short stay on the island, while others were detained for a period of days or weeks, depending upon their health. On rare occasions there were those who were denied entry to this country if their health condition was serious. Measles, tuberculosis and diphtheria were examples of excludable illnesses.
Pushes and Pulls
There were many reasons why people wanted to leave their homeland: famine, war, poverty, oppression, religious persecution and joblessness. America was the land of opportunity. Rumor had it that the streets were paved in gold and there were plenty of jobs and possibilities if you just worked hard. While many came looking for a new permanent home, others saw the trip as temporary. The image on the right shows a display at Ellis Island called, "A Two Way Street: Immigration versus Emigration". It shows that America has taken in immigrants and has also seen others emigrate to other countries. It is estimated that one-third of America's immigrants returned to their homeland.
Steerage
Most people that traveled to this country traveled by steam-powered ship after the 1880s. Many of these ships could accommodate large numbers of travelers that proved quite profitable for the shipping lines. They were housed on the lower decks where the steering mechanism of the ships were located. The area was known as steerage. The fare was cheap and the journey difficult. There was little privacy and a lack of toilets. Combined with seasickness, weather conditions, and vile odors of spoiled food and unwashed bodies made travel harsh. This photograph, courtesy of the Library of Congress, shows immigrants getting ready to disembark at Ellis Island.
If you were lucky enough to travel first or second class your experiences were much better. Most of the time these passengers were not even checked by health officials and passengers would be free to begin their new lives. Steerage passengers were not afforded the same privileges. They were taken by ferry and shuttled to Ellis Island for processing.
Health Inspections
From the time the immigrants got off the ships they were being evaluated for signs of illness or mental deficency. Doctors only had a few seconds to examine each person. They checked for a variety of diseases, disabilities and physical conditions. They were concerned about contagious diseases that may be spread to others on the mainland, not to mention that sick people would not be contributing members of society. Trachoma was one disease that could be cause for blindness or death.
The following link will show some interesting facts about the health inspections, including the system used to identify immigrants with ailments. Make sure to stop the video to read some of the information on the displays. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyyW37KP_-8
The Ellis Island Hospital
By 1911 there were more than fifteen buildings at Ellis Island that were devoted to medical care, including a maternity ward, insane asylum and morgue. The hospital originally opened in 1902 and expanded over the next few years due to the large numbers of people needing medical care. It was the largest Public Health Service hospital in the United States, with their labs operating 24/7. Their understanding of disease and technology was state-of-the-art. Perhaps the most impressive of all was the compassion that was given to the patients. The doctors and nurses took good care of their wards.
The Ellis Island Experience
Pushes and Pulls
There were many reasons why people wanted to leave their homeland: famine, war, poverty, oppression, religious persecution and joblessness. America was the land of opportunity. Rumor had it that the streets were paved in gold and there were plenty of jobs and possibilities if you just worked hard. While many came looking for a new permanent home, others saw the trip as temporary.
The image on the right shows a display at Ellis Island called, "A Two Way Street: Immigration versus Emigration". It shows that America has taken in immigrants and has also seen others emigrate to other countries. It is estimated that one-third of America's immigrants returned to their homeland.
Steerage
Most people that traveled to this country traveled by steam-powered ship after the 1880s. Many of these ships could accommodate large numbers of travelers that proved quite profitable for the shipping lines. They were housed on the lower decks where the steering mechanism of the ships were located. The area was known as steerage. The fare was cheap and the journey difficult. There was little privacy and a lack of toilets. Combined with seasickness, weather conditions, and vile odors of spoiled food and unwashed bodies made travel harsh. This photograph, courtesy of the Library of Congress, shows immigrants getting ready to disembark at Ellis Island.If you were lucky enough to travel first or second class your experiences were much better. Most of the time these passengers were not even checked by health officials and passengers would be free to begin their new lives. Steerage passengers were not afforded the same privileges. They were taken by ferry and shuttled to Ellis Island for processing.
Health Inspections
From the time the immigrants got off the ships they were being evaluated for signs of illness or mental deficency. Doctors only had a few seconds to examine each person. They checked for a variety of diseases, disabilities and physical conditions. They were concerned about contagious diseases that may be spread to others on theThe following link will show some interesting facts about the health inspections, including the system used to identify immigrants with ailments. Make sure to stop the video to read some of the information on the displays.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyyW37KP_-8
The Ellis Island Hospital
By 1911 there were more than fifteen buildings at Ellis Island that were devoted to medical care, including a maternity ward, insane asylum and morgue.Click on the following link from the Office of the Public Health Service to read about a patient's positive experience at the Ellis Island Hospital. http://lhncbc.nlm.nih.gov/apdb/phsHistory/EllisIsland/Detainment.htm