🛂 Immigrant Inspection Card (1901) – Ellis Island Steerage Passenger Arrival on RMS Oceanic

📌 Explore a rare 1901 immigrant inspection card from the RMS Oceanic, used by Ellis Island steerage passengers to verify vaccination, health clearance, and travel authorization. A valuable resource for genealogists, historians, and immigration researchers.

🛂 The 1901 Immigrant Inspection Card – A Window into Ellis Island Immigration Procedures

The Immigrant Inspection Card from the RMS Oceanic (1901) is a remarkable historical artifact that provides a rare glimpse into the immigration experience of steerage passengers arriving at Ellis Island. For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document offers a firsthand look at the bureaucratic process immigrants underwent before setting foot in America.

Issued to steerage-class passengers, this card served as proof of health clearance and official documentation for immigrants traveling from Liverpool to New York. The multiple language translations on the reverse side highlight the diverse backgrounds of those entering the U.S. at the dawn of the 20th century.

This inspection card from 1901 is especially valuable for family historians tracing Norwegian ancestry, as the immigrant listed resided in Trondhjem (modern-day Trondheim), Norway before making the journey to the United States.

Inspection Card for Immigrants and Steerage Passengers on the RMS Oceanic, Departing Liverpool for New York on 5 June 1901 and Arriving in New York Ellis Island on 14 June 1901. GGA Image ID # 1f1d2c323c

Contract Ticket No. 26031

Inspection Card

(Immigrants and Steerage Passengers.)

Port of Departure: Liverpool

Name of Ship: Oceanic

Date of Departure: 5 June 1901

Name of Immigrant: Unreadable

Last Residence: Trondhjem (Trondheim) Norway

Inspected and Passed at Liverpool 5 June 1901 by the United States Consulate

Ship's List or Manifest: 16

No. on Ship's List or Manifest: 28

Passed by Immigration Bureau, Port of New York, 14 June 1901.

Back Side of Inspection Card from the Norwegian Immigrant on the RMS Oceanic. Keep this Card to Avoid Detention at Quarantine and on Railroads in the United States. The Message is Repeated in Swedish, Dutch, French, German, Polish, and Slovak. GGA Image ID # 1f1d4cec33

Insert the Back Side of the Inspection Card from a Norwegian Immigrant on the RMS Oceanic, Which Bears the Stamped Signature of the Physician Attesting to the Vaccination Status of the Immigrant (In This Case, Vaccinated). GGA Image ID # 1f1d584539

📌 Why This Document is Important

1️⃣ What Was the Immigrant Inspection Card?

✔ A Mandatory Document for Steerage Passengers

This inspection card was issued to every steerage-class immigrant traveling to the U.S.

It confirmed that the passenger had undergone preliminary health and identity checks at their port of departure.

The card had to be retained throughout the journey and presented upon arrival to avoid detention at Ellis Island or any U.S. railway station.

✔ A Multi-Step Immigration Process

Immigrants were inspected at multiple points—first by U.S. Consulate officials at Liverpool, then by the ship’s physician, and finally by immigration officers at Ellis Island.

The reverse side of the card contained multilingual instructions, ensuring that immigrants understood its importance.

💡 For researchers, this card provides insight into how immigrants were tracked, cleared for travel, and integrated into official records.

2️⃣ The Journey of an Immigrant: RMS Oceanic’s Voyage from Liverpool to New York

📜 Details from the Inspection Card:

✔ Port of Departure: Liverpool

✔ Ship Name: RMS Oceanic

✔ Departure Date: 5 June 1901

✔ Arrival Date: 14 June 1901 (New York, Ellis Island)

✔ Last Residence: Trondhjem (Trondheim), Norway

✔ Ship's Manifest Entry: List 16, Passenger No. 28

✔ Inspected & Passed by U.S. Immigration Officials in New York on 14 June 1901

✔ Why This Is Interesting:

The RMS Oceanic was one of the most prestigious White Star Line ships, offering both luxury travel for first-class passengers and crowded, modest accommodations for steerage-class immigrants.

The inspection process was rigorous—those who failed could be quarantined, detained, or deported.

Norwegian immigrants made up a significant portion of steerage-class passengers during this period, many seeking better opportunities in the United States’ Midwest.

💡 For family historians, this card is an excellent example of the type of documents ancestors carried with them during their journey.

3️⃣ The Inspection & Health Screening Process at Ellis Island 🏥

✔ Health Inspection at Liverpool:

🔹 Before boarding the ship, steerage-class immigrants were examined by a U.S. Consulate-appointed physician to ensure they were free of infectious diseases.

🔹 The physician’s stamp on the back of the card confirmed that this passenger had been vaccinated.

✔ Ellis Island Processing:

🔹 Upon arrival, the card had to be presented to immigration officials for final inspection.

🔹 Immigrants without proper documentation risked detainment or quarantine at Ellis Island.

🔹 The card also served as a railway pass, allowing passengers to travel further into the country without additional verification.

✔ Multilingual Instructions for Immigrants:

🔹 The reverse side of the card instructed immigrants to keep it safe to avoid quarantine or travel issues.

🔹 Instructions were provided in Swedish, Dutch, French, German, Polish, and Slovak, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those traveling to America.

💡 For educators and students, this document illustrates the importance of health screenings and the strict regulations imposed on immigrants at the turn of the century.

📸 Noteworthy Images & Their Significance

📜 1. Front of the Immigrant Inspection Card (1901)

👉 An authentic example of the documentation steerage-class immigrants needed to enter the United States.

📜 2. Reverse Side of the Inspection Card

👉 Multilingual instructions highlight the linguistic diversity of Ellis Island immigrants.

📜 3. Close-Up of the Physician’s Stamp

👉 Proof that the immigrant had been vaccinated before travel—essential for passing health inspections at U.S. ports.

🔎 How This Page Helps Teachers, Students & Genealogists

📚 For Teachers & Students:

✔ Provides a firsthand historical document illustrating Ellis Island immigration procedures.

✔ Helps students understand the importance of health screenings and documentation.

✔ Encourages discussions on immigrant rights, travel conditions, and public health policies in the early 1900s.

🔎 For Genealogists & Family Historians:

✔ If your ancestor traveled in steerage class, they likely carried an inspection card like this one.

✔ The details on such cards help connect family history records with ship manifests and Ellis Island records.

✔ Knowing the last place of residence (such as Trondheim, Norway, in this case) can help trace European ancestry.

📝 For Historians & Immigration Researchers:

✔ This document provides evidence of immigration policies in 1901, particularly how health and identity verification were managed.

✔ The presence of multiple languages on the reverse side offers insights into the demographics of immigrants at the time.

✔ The RMS Oceanic was a major immigrant ship, making this card part of a larger history of transatlantic migration.

📖 Final Thoughts: Why This Article Matters

The 1901 Immigrant Inspection Card from the RMS Oceanic is more than just a document—it represents the real-life experience of millions of steerage-class immigrants who sought a new life in America.

💡 For historians, it illustrates how immigration laws and health screenings were enforced in the early 1900s.

💡 For genealogists, it provides a tangible record that connects an ancestor’s journey to Ellis Island.

💡 For educators, it offers a powerful teaching tool to discuss immigration, public health, and the immigrant experience.

📜 By preserving and studying documents like this, we gain a deeper understanding of the struggles, triumphs, and resilience of the immigrants who helped shape modern America. 🚢🛂