🛂 1910 RMS Lusitania Immigrant ID Tag – A Rare Glimpse Into Ellis Island Immigration Processing

📌 Discover a rare 1910 immigrant ID tag from the RMS Lusitania, issued to Swedish passenger K. E. Paulson before arrival at Ellis Island. Learn about early U.S. immigration procedures, public health screenings, and steerage travel aboard one of history’s most famous ocean liners.

🛂 RMS Lusitania Immigrant ID Tag - 9 July 1910: A Unique Glimpse into Early 20th Century Immigration

A Tangible Link to the Immigrant Experience

The RMS Lusitania immigrant ID tag from 9 July 1910 is an extraordinary artifact that provides insight into the arrival process for steerage passengers at Ellis Island.

Issued to Swedish immigrant K. E. Paulson, this tag was worn on the passenger’s outer garment and contained essential information about their journey, including ship name, departure date, and manifest details.

For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this primary source document is invaluable in understanding the immigrant experience, the logistics of processing thousands of arrivals daily, and the role of major transatlantic ocean liners in facilitating global migration.

Front Side, Immigrant ID Tag. When landing in New York, this card was pinned to the coat or dress of the passenger in a prominent position. Provided to K. E. Paulson, who traveled to the United States on the RMS Lusitania, Departing from Liverpool on 9 July 1910 for New York. Listed on Manifest No. 10, List No. 14. GGA Image ID # 1545720f6a

An Immigrant ID Tag, worn on the outer garment, boldly displays pertinent information about each immigrant, including ship, departure from and date, location in manifest, and name.

SS Lusitania

From Liverpool July 9th, 1910

Manifest Sheet No. 10

Name: K. E. Paulson

List No. 14 (see Back)

(Manifest Sheet/List can be thought of as Manifest Page No. 10, Line 14)

View Related Inspection Card.

Back Side, Immigrant ID Tag. Instructions to Immigrant in Nine Languages, "When landing in New York, this card is to be pinned to the coat or dress of the passenger in a prominent position." The Instruction is Repeated in Swedish, Finnish, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Hungarian, and Croatian. GGA Image ID # 1545bc1000

Immigrant ID Tag Images contributed by Kathleen Rowland

Third Class Accommodations on The Lusitania and Mauretania - The Fastest Vessels in the World. Views of a General Room, Sitting Room, Two Berth Room, and Smoking Room. Across The Atlantic In 4 1/2 Days. GGA Image ID # 118d1e8ecb. Click to View a Larger Image.

RMS Lusitania at Landing Stage, Liverpool. This is Where the Immigrant K. E. Paulson Boarded the Ship. Cunard Daily Bulletin, Summer Number, 1912. GGA Image ID # 1ea14381a8

📌 Why This Document Is Significant

1️⃣ The Role of Immigrant ID Tags in U.S. Immigration

✔ What Was an Immigrant ID Tag?

🔹 Issued to third-class (steerage) passengers, this tag was an essential document worn on the coat or dress in a visible position.

🔹 It ensured that immigration officials could quickly locate the passenger’s records on the ship manifest for processing.

🔹 The tag helped identify non-English-speaking immigrants, preventing confusion or misplacement in the crowded halls of Ellis Island.

✔ Why This Was Necessary

🔹 Ellis Island processed thousands of immigrants per day, and quick identification was crucial.

🔹 The tags helped steerage passengers navigate the complex arrival procedures.

🔹 Without an ID tag, passengers risked longer wait times or confusion during processing.

💡 For educators, this artifact illustrates the scale of immigration processing and the practical systems in place to manage the influx of newcomers.

2️⃣ K. E. Paulson’s Journey - A Case Study of an Immigrant’s Arrival

📜 Details from the ID Tag: ✔ Full Name: K. E. Paulson

✔ Ship: RMS Lusitania (Cunard Line)

✔ Port of Departure: Liverpool, England

✔ Date of Departure: 9 July 1910

✔ Port of Arrival: Ellis Island, New York

✔ Passenger Manifest Entry: Page 10, Line 14

✔ Languages on Reverse Side: Swedish, Finnish, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Hungarian, Croatian

✔ Why This Is Interesting

🔹 The multilingual instructions highlight the diversity of immigrants arriving in America.

🔹 The ID tag confirmed Paulson’s identification and travel details, ensuring a smooth entry process.

🔹 The connection between the ID tag and the ship’s manifest demonstrates how U.S. immigration authorities tracked new arrivals.

💡 For genealogists, this ID tag is a rare find, providing a direct link to an immigrant ancestor’s arrival details.

3️⃣ How Immigrant ID Tags Were Used at Ellis Island 🛂

✔ Step 1: Issued Before Arrival

🔹 ID tags were distributed on board the ship, usually just before arrival.

🔹 They were filled out by ship officials and pinned to passengers’ clothing.

✔ Step 2: Identification at Ellis Island

🔹 Upon arrival, officials used the tag to locate the immigrant’s records in the passenger manifest.

🔹 Tags helped guide passengers through medical and legal inspections.

✔ Step 3: Required for Train or Steamboat Travel

🔹 Many immigrants continued their journey beyond New York.

🔹 The ID tag ensured they would not be detained at train stations or checkpoints.

💡 For historians, the ID tag system represents an early effort in large-scale immigration management and processing efficiency.

4️⃣ RMS Lusitania: A Major Carrier of Immigrants 🚢

📜 Ship Specifications (Built in 1906 by John Brown & Co., Scotland):

✔ Operator: Cunard Line

✔ Tonnage: 31,550 tons

✔ Length: 787 feet

✔ Beam: 87 feet

✔ Propulsion: Quadruple screw steamship

✔ Speed: 25 knots

✔ Passenger Capacity: 2,198 (552 first class, 460 second class, 1,186 third class/steerage)

✔ Route: Liverpool – New York

✔ Why This Ship Matters

🔹 The RMS Lusitania was one of the world’s fastest and most advanced ocean liners.

🔹 It carried thousands of immigrants to America, offering steerage-class accommodations for those seeking a new life.

🔹 The third-class areas were crowded but provided basic necessities, ensuring safe passage for budget-conscious travelers.

🔹 Although best known for its tragic sinking in 1915, the Lusitania played a crucial role in transatlantic immigration.

💡 For maritime historians, the Lusitania represents both a technological achievement and a key player in the immigrant journey to America.

📸 Noteworthy Images & Their Significance

📜 1. Front of the RMS Lusitania Immigrant ID Tag (1910)

👉 Shows Paulson’s travel details, ensuring quick identification by Ellis Island officials.

📜 2. Reverse Side of the ID Tag

👉 Includes multilingual instructions, reflecting the diversity of immigrants processed daily.

📜 3. Third-Class Accommodations on the Lusitania

👉 Illustrates the conditions in which thousands of immigrants traveled to America.

📜 4. RMS Lusitania at Liverpool Landing Stage (1912)

👉 Highlights the ship’s role in transporting thousands of immigrants to New York.

🔎 How This Page Helps Teachers, Students & Genealogists

📚 For Teachers & Students:

✔ Provides a primary source artifact illustrating early 20th-century U.S. immigration policies.

✔ Explores how large-scale immigration was managed using simple yet effective systems like ID tags.

✔ Discusses public health and documentation requirements for immigrants.

🔎 For Genealogists & Family Historians:

✔ Offers insight into how ancestors were processed upon arrival.

✔ Confirms key details such as departure ports, ship name, and last residence.

✔ Helps connect ID tags to passenger manifests and family records.

📝 For Historians & Immigration Researchers:

✔ Highlights the procedural aspects of Ellis Island immigration processing.

✔ Explores the logistics of handling thousands of arrivals per day.

✔ Examines the role of major ocean liners in global migration trends.

📖 Final Thoughts: Why This Article Matters

The 1910 RMS Lusitania immigrant ID tag is a powerful artifact that sheds light on early U.S. immigration procedures. It reveals:

📌 How immigrant identification was managed on arrival.

📌 The importance of documentation for ensuring a smooth entry into the U.S.

📌 The role of transatlantic ocean liners in facilitating mass migration.

For historians, genealogists, and educators, this ID tag is a tangible connection to the past, offering a deeper understanding of how millions of people embarked on their journey to the United States. 🌍🚢🛂