🛂 1909 SS Dominion Canadian Immigrant Inspection Card – A Rare Record of Family Migration to Canada

📌 Explore a rare 1909 Canadian immigrant inspection card from the SS Dominion, issued to the Murray family upon arrival in Québec. Learn about early Canadian immigration procedures, medical examinations, and transatlantic migration trends.

🛂 SS Dominion Canadian Immigrant Inspection Card - 1909: A Rare Insight into Early 20th Century Immigration to Canada

The 1909 Canadian Immigrant Inspection Card from the SS Dominion offers a fascinating glimpse into immigration procedures for families traveling to Canada in the early 20th century. Issued to the Murray family (Thomas, Annie, and their three children), this document confirms their medical examination and civil clearance at the Port of Québec upon arrival on 14 November 1909.

For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this article serves as a primary source for understanding Canadian immigration processes, public health screenings, and documentation requirements for arriving settlers. It highlights the rigorous yet organized process of inspecting and recording new immigrants, providing valuable context for those researching family history or studying migration trends.

Front Side, Canadian Immigrant Inspection Card, SS Dominion of the Dominion Line, Sailing from Liverpool to Québec, 4 November 1909. Passed Medical Examination at the Port of Québec on 14 November 1909. Name of Immigrant: Murray Family. GGA Image ID # 1fb6b40eef

Inspection Card Information

Name of Ship: Dominion

Sailing From: Liverpool

Date: 4 November 1909

Name of Immigrant: Murray, Thomas, Annie, and Three Children

Last Residence: UK

Name Appears on Manifest: Page 10, Lines 2-6

Medical Examination Stamp: Port of Quebec Can. Passed Medical Examination 14 November 1909

Civil Examination Stamp: Dominion Government Immigration Office, 14 November 1909

Railroad Ticket Agent's Stamp: None

Back Side, Canadian Immigrant Inspection Card, 1909. This Card Should Be Kept Carefully for Three Years. It Should Be Shown to Government Officials Whenever Required. Instruction Is Provided in English, Bohemian, Russian, Ruthenian (Eastern Slavic), German, French, Dutch, Hungarian, Swedish, Polish, Italian, and Arabic. GGA Image ID # 1f05f4d62b

The Murray Family Immigrated to Canada on the SS Dominion, Twin-Screw Steamship of the Dominion Line. Propulsion: Twin-screw, Tonnage: 6618, Length: 446 Feet, Breadth: 51 Feet. GGA Image ID # 121b4941b0

📌 Why This Document Is Important

1️⃣ The Role of Immigrant Inspection Cards in Canadian Immigration

✔ What Was an Inspection Card?

🔹 Issued to steerage-class (third-class) passengers, immigrant inspection cards served as official proof of health clearance and identity.

🔹 Upon arrival, immigrants had to present this card to government officials to proceed with settlement.

🔹 The card was valid for three years and had to be kept for reference during interactions with immigration authorities.

✔ Why This Was Necessary:

🔹 Canada, like the United States, imposed strict medical and civil examinations on immigrants to prevent the entry of individuals with contagious diseases, criminal records, or those deemed “undesirable”.

🔹 The medical exam ensured that immigrants did not bring tuberculosis, smallpox, or other infectious diseases into the country.

💡 For educators, this document is an excellent resource for discussing Canadian immigration policies and how they compared to those in the U.S.

2️⃣ The Murray Family’s Journey & Canadian Immigration Procedures 🚢

📜 Details from the Inspection Card:

✔ Full Names: Thomas & Annie Murray + 3 children

✔ Ship: SS Dominion (Dominion Line)

✔ Port of Departure: Liverpool, England

✔ Date of Departure: 4 November 1909

✔ Port of Arrival: Québec, Canada

✔ Date of Arrival: 14 November 1909

✔ Medical Examination: Passed at Québec

✔ Civil Examination: Approved by the Dominion Government Immigration Office

✔ Passenger Manifest Entry: Page 10, Lines 2-6

✔ Why This Is Interesting:

🔹 The Murray family traveled together, reflecting the trend of entire families immigrating to Canada for better economic opportunities.

🔹 Their approval process involved both medical and civil examinations, demonstrating Canada’s structured approach to immigration.

🔹 The card was written in multiple languages, ensuring accessibility for immigrants from various backgrounds.

💡 For genealogists, this inspection card is a vital record of Canadian-bound immigrants, serving as a crucial document for family history research.

3️⃣ Medical Inspections & Immigration Health Requirements 🏥

✔ Why Medical Exams Were Required

🔹 Before boarding the SS Dominion, steerage passengers had to undergo a preliminary health check in Liverpool.

🔹 Upon arrival in Québec, they underwent a second medical examination before receiving clearance.

🔹 Those who failed the exam could be detained, quarantined, or deported.

✔ Medical Examination Stamp on the Card

🔹 The stamp on the front confirms that the Murray family passed their medical exam at the Port of Québec on 14 November 1909.

🔹 The absence of a railroad ticket agent’s stamp suggests they may have settled in Québec or made their own onward travel arrangements.

💡 For historians, this highlights Canada’s focus on public health and how immigration laws were influenced by disease outbreaks in the early 20th century.

4️⃣ The SS Dominion & Its Role in Canadian Immigration 🚢

📜 Ship Specifications (Built in 1891 by Harland & Wolff, Belfast):

✔ Operator: Dominion Line

✔ Tonnage: 6,618 tons

✔ Length: 446 feet

✔ Breadth: 51 feet

✔ Propulsion: Twin-screw steamship

✔ Route: Liverpool – Québec

✔ Why This Ship Matters:

🔹 The SS Dominion was a key immigrant transport vessel, bringing thousands of British and European settlers to Canada.

🔹 It operated during a peak period of Canadian immigration, when the country actively encouraged farmers, laborers, and skilled workers to settle in rural areas.

🔹 The ship’s third-class (steerage) accommodations were crowded but affordable, making it a popular choice for working-class immigrants.

💡 For maritime historians, the SS Dominion represents Canada’s growing transatlantic migration network in the early 1900s.

📸 Noteworthy Images & Their Significance

📜 1. Front of the Canadian Immigrant Inspection Card (1909)

👉 Confirms the Murray family’s departure details, medical clearance, and official immigration approval.

📜 2. Reverse Side of the Inspection Card

👉 Lists instructions in 10+ languages, reflecting Canada’s multicultural immigration policies.

📜 3. SS Dominion Steamship Image

👉 Illustrates the type of vessel that carried thousands of immigrants to Canada during the early 20th century.

🔎 How This Page Helps Teachers, Students & Genealogists

📚 For Teachers & Students:

✔ Provides a primary source document illustrating early Canadian immigration policies.

✔ Explores medical and civil screening procedures for immigrants.

✔ Encourages discussions about family migration trends from Europe to Canada.

🔎 For Genealogists & Family Historians:

✔ Helps trace ancestry for British and European immigrants arriving in Canada.

✔ Confirms arrival details, last residence, and immigration approval.

✔ Connects immigrant records with passenger manifests and settlement history.

📝 For Historians & Immigration Researchers:

✔ Demonstrates how Canada’s immigration policies evolved.

✔ Highlights public health concerns and medical screening in the immigration process.

✔ Connects maritime migration with Canada’s broader settlement efforts.

📖 Final Thoughts: Why This Article Matters

The 1909 Canadian Immigrant Inspection Card from the SS Dominion is a powerful document that sheds light on Canada’s structured immigration system. It reveals:

📌 How families like the Murrays navigated the immigration process.

📌 The importance of medical and civil examinations in securing entry.

📌 The vital role of transatlantic steamships in bringing settlers to Canada.

For historians, genealogists, and educators, this inspection card is a tangible piece of history, helping us understand the immigrant experience and Canada’s efforts to manage public health and national development. 🌍🚢🛂