1931 RMS Duchess of York U.S. Landing Card – A Rare Immigration Document
📌 Explore a 1931 U.S. Landing Card from the RMS Duchess of York, issued to Elizabeth Hausen and documenting her immigration clearance process. A valuable resource for historians, genealogists, and students studying early 20th-century migration.
United States Landing Card Issued to Elizabeth Hausen Traveling on Canadian Pacific Steamship RMS Duchess of York, Examined and Found Admissible by US Immigration Inspector on 22 August 1931. GGA Image ID # 1fbbb84072
1931 RMS Duchess of York U.S. Landing Card – A Vital Immigration Document 🛂🚢📜
The United States Landing Card issued to Elizabeth Hausen in 1931 is a remarkable piece of immigration history that provides insight into early 20th-century migration policies, port inspections, and passenger documentation. This card, issued on the Canadian Pacific Steamship RMS Duchess of York, signified official clearance by a U.S. Immigration Inspector upon arrival.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document offers a tangible link to the immigration experience of transatlantic travelers. It serves as proof of how the United States processed immigrants before entry, demonstrating the rigorous medical and legal checks enforced at major ports like Liverpool and New York.
Canadian Pacific Steamships, Ltd.
RMS Duchess of York
United States Landing Card
Page 4, Line 8 [of passenger manifest]
Name: HAUSEN Elizabeth (or Eliziabeth)
History of the Landing Card as it pertains to the Port of Liverpool.
Inspection of Emigrants at Liverpool
In Liverpool, the embarkation system of passengers differs from that prevailing at nearly every other port, this difference arising from the remarkable rise and fall of tide (over 30 feet). All ships take their cargo in enclosed docks.
When the steerage passengers get on the ship, they must undergo an actual examination by the Board of Trade medical inspector and the ship's surgeon. They are mustered on deck and made to pass between the two doctors. Every emigrant is examined personally and individually.
The object of the Board of Trade official is to reject those persons who are prohibited from sailing under British law from a British port. This is primarily for the protection of the ship and of the passengers, as well as of the crew (who also are examined), and is, in an official sense, apart from consideration of the laws of the United States upon the subject.
The ship's surgeon is expected to look sharply after those cases that come within the prohibition of the laws of the United States. He has to go further than the official purview of the British Board of Trade examiner.
But, by force of circumstances and from a developed desire to avoid any friction and to facilitate and aid the shipping companies in their business, the latter official goes beyond the mere letter of his instructions and, as a rule, freely gives the benefit of his professional knowledge and experience in helping the ship's surgeon in deciding whether any particular case comes under the prohibition of the United States laws.
An official from the United States consulate is also present at the examination, and he hands a certified landing card to every emigrant who is "passed" by the two doctors.
It is impracticable for an examination to be made at the home (British side) of the intending emigrants. As to first and second-class passengers, the British assessment includes them only under exceptional circumstances.
The ship's surgeon stands at the gangplank at the entrance to the vessel and is supposed to scrutinize these first and second saloon passengers as they come on board.
It is open to doubt whether this examination is comprehensive. Still, it is claimed that it is optional. The consular authority should include first and second saloon passengers, as well as steerage passengers, to be put in force when necessary, even though the necessity would seldom arise. I have never encountered any cases of rejection from the steerage being allowed to embark as saloon passengers.
Special Consular Reports, Emigration to the United States, Volume 30, 1904, Page 149.
Why This Document is Significant
For Teachers & Students 📚
🔹 Great for classroom discussions on early U.S. immigration policies and transatlantic travel.
🔹 Highlights the role of shipping companies in immigration enforcement.
🔹 Encourages comparisons between past and present immigration clearance procedures.
For Genealogists 🏡
🔹 Landing cards help confirm an ancestor’s arrival in the U.S., which is crucial for family history research.
🔹 Provides details about ship name, port of departure, and manifest page number, which can be used to locate additional immigration records.
🔹 If researching European ancestors arriving in the 1930s, this card may provide clues about their journey and official U.S. entry process.
For Historians & Immigration Scholars 🏛
🔹 Illustrates how immigrants were scrutinized before boarding ships in Europe and again upon arrival in North America.
🔹 Provides insight into the collaboration between British, Canadian, and U.S. immigration authorities.
🔹 Shows the importance of health screenings, documentation, and legal verification in pre-WWII migration policies.
Noteworthy Images & Their Significance
1. U.S. Landing Card Issued to Elizabeth Hausen (1931)
📸 Caption: "Official U.S. Landing Card issued to Elizabeth Hausen aboard the RMS Duchess of York, examined by a U.S. Immigration Inspector on August 22, 1931."
💡 Why It’s Interesting:
🔹 Confirms passenger identity, ship name, and legal clearance to enter the U.S.
🔹 Provides a direct connection to historical passenger lists and immigration records.
🔹 Demonstrates the necessity of official paperwork for immigrants, travelers, and transatlantic passengers.
2. Port of Liverpool & Pre-Departure Examinations
📸 Caption: "Immigrants at Liverpool were required to pass medical and legal inspections before boarding ships to America."
💡 Why It’s Interesting:
🔹 Highlights Britain’s role as a major departure hub for transatlantic migration.
🔹 Details how immigrants were assessed for health conditions, identity verification, and eligibility for entry into the U.S.
🔹 Shows the rigorous, multi-stage approval process immigrants had to navigate before reaching their destination.
Historical Context & Relevance to Immigration Studies
1. What Was a U.S. Landing Card?
🔹 A Landing Card was an official document issued to arriving immigrants and travelers.
🔹 It verified their admission status and indicated that they had passed U.S. immigration and medical inspections.
🔹 Passengers without proper paperwork risked being detained, deported, or denied entry.
2. The Role of the RMS Duchess of York in Immigration
🔹 The RMS Duchess of York was a Canadian Pacific Steamship that transported thousands of immigrants and travelers between Europe and North America.
🔹 It was a key vessel in transatlantic migration routes, connecting Liverpool, Quebec, and other major ports.
🔹 Immigrants aboard this ship often carried Landing Cards to prove their admissibility upon arrival.
3. The Liverpool Immigration Process
🔹 Liverpool was one of the busiest departure ports for immigrants traveling to the U.S. and Canada.
🔹 Medical examinations were conducted before departure, ensuring immigrants did not carry infectious diseases.
🔹 A U.S. Consular official would issue certified landing cards to all approved passengers, preventing ineligible travelers from reaching American soil.
🔹 The system protected ships, passengers, and immigration authorities from legal complications.
Key Takeaways for Research & Essay Writing
📌 For Students & Teachers:
🔹 Demonstrates how immigration policies were enforced in the 1930s.
🔹 Shows the complexity of international migration and the role of documentation.
🔹 Great for comparing historical immigration procedures to modern-day systems.
📌 For Genealogists & Family Historians:
🔹 A Landing Card can confirm an ancestor’s official entry into the U.S.
🔹 Provides clues for tracking down ship manifests, naturalization papers, and other records.
🔹 Useful for mapping out family migration routes across Europe and North America.
📌 For Historians & Immigration Policy Researchers:
🔹 Highlights collaboration between immigration authorities in different countries.
🔹 Provides insight into how immigration restrictions were implemented before WWII.
🔹 Offers evidence of how public health and legal compliance shaped migration policies.
Final Thoughts: A Vital Immigration Artifact
The 1931 RMS Duchess of York U.S. Landing Card is a fascinating and historically valuable document that illustrates early 20th-century immigration policies, port inspections, and legal clearance procedures. It connects to broader themes of public health, transatlantic migration, and border control measures.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this Landing Card offers a compelling look into how immigrants navigated bureaucratic processes before reaching their final destinations. It serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by travelers and the evolving nature of immigration policies over time.
🔍 How do historical immigration procedures compare to today’s border control policies? What lessons can we learn from early 20th-century immigration systems? 🤔
