🛂 1910 RMS Lusitania Immigrant Inspection Card – A Historic Look at U.S. Immigration Procedures

📌 Explore a rare 1910 immigrant inspection card 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 Inspection Card - 1910: A Glimpse Into Early 20th-Century Immigration

The 1910 immigrant inspection card from the RMS Lusitania is a remarkable historical document that provides insight into the experience of steerage passengers traveling to America in the early 20th century. Issued to Swedish immigrant K. E. Paulson, this card confirmed that he departed from Liverpool on 9 July 1910, underwent medical inspection, and was approved for entry at Ellis Island upon arrival in New York.

For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this primary source document is an invaluable resource for studying immigration procedures, public health policies, and the realities of transatlantic travel aboard one of history’s most famous ocean liners—the RMS Lusitania.

Front Side, Immigrant, and Steerage Passengers Inspection Card dated 9 July 1910 for Swedish Immigrant K. E. Paulson from Gothenburg. He departed from Liverpool for New York on the Cunard Line RMS Lusitania. GGA Image ID # 1544e4bdde

Inspection Card Information

(Immigrants and Steerage Passengers)

Contract Ticket No. 45217

Port of Departure: Liverpool

Date of Departure: July 9, 1910

Name of Immigrant: K E Paulman ?

Last Residence: Gothenburg

Inspected and passed at Liverpool

Passed by Immigration Bureau, Port of New York, Ellis Island

No. on Ships List or manifest: Page 10, Line 14

View Related Immigrant ID Tag

Back Side, Immigrant and Steerage Passengers Inspection Card dated 9 July 1910. Proof of Smallpox Vaccination on the Right Side, with Instructions on the Left Side to "Keep this Card to avoid detention at Quarantine and on Railroads in the United States." The Instruction is Repeated in Swedish, Finnish, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Hungarian, and Croatian. Stamped with Manifest No. 10, List No. 14. GGA Image ID # 154510fda7

Vaccinated (Signature or Stamp) Close-up of Section. Stamped with Las. Pointon, M.R.O.E., L.N.O.P, Surgeon, RMS Lusitania. GGA Image ID # 1545357b59

Inspection Card Images contributed by Kathleen Rowland

Third Class Dining Saloon on the RMS Lusitania. Engineering Magazine, 12 July 1907. GGA Image ID # 1d51c720ff

RMS Lusitania Coming Into Port ca 1910, Possibly in New York. George Grantham Bain Collection. Library of Congress # 2006677521. GGA Image ID # 1d4c6d5aac

📌 Why This Document Is Important

1️⃣ The Role of Immigrant Inspection Cards in U.S. Immigration

✔ What Was an Inspection Card?

🔹 Issued to third-class (steerage) passengers, immigrant inspection cards were essential documents confirming that passengers passed a medical examination before disembarking in America.

🔹 This prevented detention at quarantine stations and ensured a smoother entry process at Ellis Island.

🔹 The card was required for train or steamboat travel within the U.S. and had to be presented to authorities when necessary.

✔ Why This Was Necessary:

🔹 The U.S. had strict immigration health regulations to prevent the spread of contagious diseases such as smallpox, cholera, and tuberculosis.

🔹 Without a valid inspection card, immigrants could be detained, quarantined, or even deported.

💡 For educators, this document is an excellent resource to explore the intersection of immigration, public health, and international travel.

2️⃣ The Journey of Swedish Immigrant K. E. Paulson 🚢

📜 Details from the Inspection Card:

✔ Full Name: K. E. Paulson (or Paulman)

✔ Ship: RMS Lusitania (Cunard Line)

✔ Port of Departure: Liverpool, England

✔ Date of Departure: 9 July 1910

✔ Port of Arrival: Ellis Island, New York

✔ Last Residence: Gothenburg, Sweden

✔ Passenger Manifest Entry: Page 10, Line 14

✔ Medical Examination: Passed at Liverpool

✔ Vaccination Status: Confirmed on the back of the card by the ship’s surgeon

✔ Languages Included: Swedish, Finnish, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Hungarian, Croatian

✔ Why This Is Interesting:

🔹 The card confirms Paulson’s medical clearance before departure, showing the strict health measures imposed on immigrants.

🔹 The multilingual instructions on the back highlight the diverse backgrounds of immigrants arriving in America.

🔹 The inspection process reflects how immigrants navigated transatlantic travel to start a new life in the U.S.

💡 For genealogists, this card is a crucial piece of evidence when tracing immigrant ancestors.

3️⃣ Medical Inspections & Public Health in Immigration 🏥

✔ Why Medical Exams Were Required

🔹 Before boarding the RMS Lusitania, steerage passengers were subjected to medical checks in Liverpool.

🔹 Upon arrival at Ellis Island, they underwent a secondary inspection to ensure they were disease-free.

Failure to meet health requirements could result in deportation.

✔ Proof of Smallpox Vaccination on the Card

🔹 The back of the card confirms that Paulson was vaccinated by the ship’s surgeon, Las. Pointon, M.R.O.E., L.N.O.P.

🔹 This ensured that immigrants arriving in America were protected from smallpox.

💡 For historians, this showcases the significant role of immigration health policies in shaping U.S. and international migration trends.

4️⃣ The RMS Lusitania: A Legendary Ship & Immigration Hub 🚢

📜 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 most advanced ocean liners of her time, known for her luxury and speed.

🔹 Although she is most famous for being sunk by a German U-boat in 1915, she was also a crucial immigrant transport vessel, bringing thousands of European immigrants to America.

🔹 Third-class (steerage) passengers like Paulson traveled in crowded conditions, often in dormitory-style bunks with shared dining and sanitation facilities.

💡 For maritime historians, the Lusitania represents both a technological marvel and a key player in early 20th-century migration.

📸 Noteworthy Images & Their Significance

📜 1. Front of the RMS Lusitania Immigrant Inspection Card (1910)

👉 Confirms Paulson’s medical approval, vaccination status, and clearance for Ellis Island.

📜 2. Reverse Side of the Inspection Card

👉 Includes multilingual instructions to ensure immigrants knew to keep their card while traveling in the U.S.

📜 3. Third-Class Dining Saloon on the RMS Lusitania

👉 Offers a rare glimpse into how steerage passengers dined aboard one of the world’s most famous ocean liners.

📜 4. RMS Lusitania Arriving in Port (circa 1910)

👉 A powerful visual of the vessel that carried thousands of immigrants across the Atlantic.

🔎 How This Page Helps Teachers, Students & Genealogists

📚 For Teachers & Students:

✔ Provides a primary source document showcasing early 20th-century U.S. immigration policies.

✔ Explores public health measures & medical exams for immigrants.

✔ Discusses the experience of traveling in steerage aboard famous ocean liners.

🔎 For Genealogists & Family Historians:

✔ Helps trace Swedish and other European immigrants who arrived in America in 1910.

✔ Confirms arrival details, last residence, and health records.

✔ Connects inspection cards to passenger manifests & family history research.

📝 For Historians & Immigration Researchers:

✔ Highlights how immigration screening procedures evolved.

✔ Explores the intersection of public health and migration.

✔ Examines the role of major steamship lines in transatlantic immigration.

📖 Final Thoughts: Why This Article Matters

The 1910 RMS Lusitania immigrant inspection card is a significant artifact that sheds light on early U.S. immigration processes. It reveals:

📌 How immigrants like K. E. Paulson navigated the medical and legal entry process.

📌 The importance of public health screenings and vaccination policies.

📌 The vital role of transatlantic ocean liners in shaping the American immigrant experience.

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