1923 Lithuanian Immigrant Documents – A Journey Through Ellis Island

📌 Explore a rare collection of 1923 Lithuanian immigrant documents, including an inspection card, ID tag, and passenger manifest. A valuable resource for historians, genealogists, and researchers studying Ellis Island immigration records.

From 1892 to 1954, Millions of immigrants were processed through Ellis Island. This archival collection of documents pertains to a 65-year-old Lithuanian immigrant, Barbara Vitkiene, who arrived at Ellis Island in 1923, including the Immigrant Inspection Card, Immigrant ID Tag, passenger manifest extracts, and additional images.

Front Side of a Holland-America Line Inspection Card (Third Class Passengers) for Lithuanian Immigrant, Sailing on the SS Ryndam (Rijndam) from Rotterdam to New York on 26 September 1923. GGA Image ID # 1fb9057e16

INSPECTION CARD

• Port of Departure: Rotterdam Date of Departure: 26 September 1923
  • (Arrived in New York on 6 October 1923 - Page 217 Morton Allan Directory)
• Name of Ship: Rijndam I (1901) (Capacity of 286 First Class; 196 Second Class and 1,800 Third Class / Steerage Passengers)
• Name of Passenger: Barbara Vitkiene
• Last Residence: Kowlisky, Lithuania
• Inspected and Passed at Rotterdam: United States Public Health Service
• Passed at Quarantine, Port of [New York]
• Passed by Immigration Bureau, Port of [New York]
• Stamped by U.S. Public Health Service, Long Island, NYC 11 October 1923
• Berth No. [Left Blank]
• Steamship Inspection: 10 Holes Punched by Ship's Surgeon at Daily Inspection.

Back Side, Certificate or Inspection Card Used by the U. S. Immigration Service for Immigrants Which Indicated That They Were Vaccinated, Disinfected, and Passed Daily Health Inspections during the Voyage across the Atlantic. The Immigrant Was Instructed to "Keep This Card to Avoid Detention at Quarantine and on Railroads in the United States." The quoted Message Was Written on the Back Side in English, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Polish, and Slavic. GGA Image ID # 1fb995456e

Closeup of the Back Side of the 1923 Inspection Card Showing the Vaccinated (Signature or Stamp). This Card was Stamped "Vaccinated/Disinfested." GGA Image ID # 1fb9991fff

1923 Lithuanian Immigrant Document Collection – A First-Hand Look at Ellis Island Immigration 🛂🚢

This rare archival collection follows the immigration journey of 65-year-old Barbara Vitkiene, a Lithuanian immigrant who arrived at Ellis Island in 1923. It includes critical documents such as an inspection card, immigrant ID tag, and passenger manifest extracts, each offering unique insight into the Ellis Island immigration process.

📌 This collection is invaluable for:

✅ Teachers & Students – Understanding Ellis Island's immigrant processing system

✅ Genealogists – Tracing Lithuanian immigration records and name changes

✅ Historians – Studying health regulations and inspection protocols

✅ Anyone interested in family history & immigration

📖 Students writing essays on immigration history can use these documents as primary sources to explore themes of health screenings, identity documentation, and the journey of immigrants through Ellis Island.

Front Side of an Immigrant Identification Tag Worn on the Outer Garment - This One Was for Barbara Vitkiene of Lithuania. The Front of the Tag Identified the Page and Line Number of the Passenger Manifest Shown Above. GGA Image ID # 1fba48526e

Each immigrant received an Immigration ID Card that was attached by a string to their outer garment and was worn throughout their inspection process at Ellis Island.

Cruise Line: Holland-America Line

Vessel: TSS Rijndam (often referred to as the "Ryndam")

Route: from Rotterdam, Date: 26 September 1923 (Arrived in New York 6 October 1923)

Passenger List: Manifest Sheet No. 5, List No. 6

Name of Passenger and address of destination

Barbara Vitkiene

c/o son: John Vilkins, 264 N. Chicago Street, Kenosha, Wisconsin

Back Side of an Immigrant Identification Tag Worn on the Outer Garment. provided the instructions for wearing the ID tag: "When landing in New York, this card is to be attached to the coat or dress of the passenger in a prominent position." The message above is repeated in Dutch, Hungarian, Croatian, Czech, Ukrainian?, Russian, Polish, and Arabic. GGA Image ID # 1fba6a3151

A Quick Lesson on Lithuanian Surnames

In Lithuania, female surname endings change based on marital status, while male spellings stay the same.

All married female surname spellings end in IENE. In Barbara's case, her surname spelling indicates she is Mrs. Barbara Vitkus.

Unmarried female spellings end in AITE, UTE (circa 1900 IUTE), or YTE, depending on how the surname ending is spelled.

An unmarried female with the surname of VITKUS would become VITKUTE (or VITKIUTE using an older spelling version).

- Lithuanian Name Change information submitted by Tom Sadauska

Postcard of the Holland America Line TSS Rijndam (Ryndam), 12,527 Tons Register. 22,070 Ton Displacement. Postally used 26 April 1910. GGA Image ID # 1fba7f1948

List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival, Part 1, 1923-10-06 Passenger Manifest Page 0362. GGA Image ID # 1fba8a7f97. Click to View a Larger Image.

Close-up of Line 6, Part 1 (Barbara Vitkiene) of Manifest Page 0362 (See Above Image). GGA Image ID # 1fbab41883. Click to View a Larger Image.

List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival, Part 2, 1923-10-06 Passenger Manifest Page 0363. GGA Image ID # 1fbae9d2dd. Click to View a Larger Image.

Close-up of Line 6, Part 2. Name of Passenger Residence Arrived Age on Arrival Passenger Record Ship Manifest - Barbara Vitkiene from Kowlisky, Lithuania. GGA Image ID # 1fbb550623. Click to View a Larger Image.

The Imposing Ellis Island Administration Building and the Transportation Barges. These White-Painted Barges, Heated in Winter, Carry Immigrants from the Steamer to Ellis Island. There is an Official Impressiveness about the Administration Building That is Confirmed Later When You Examine the Inner Workings of the System at Ellis Island. Photo © 1923 Brown Bros. The Cunarder, September 1923. GGA Image ID # 1fb914864a

An Air Pilot Sees Ellis Island from an Unusual Viewpoint, but Even from the Air, Ellis Island Has a Square Look. It is, as Not Many People Know, a "Manufactured" Island, and Cost, with Its Buildings and Equipment, $10,000,000. Its Situation on the Busiest Bay in the World Makes It a Remarkably Interesting Foyer to New- Comers from All Parts of the World. Photo © 1923 Fairchild Aerial Service. The Cunarder, September 1923. GGA Image ID # 1fb95a45a7

Their First Meal in America Is a Good One. The Large, White-Tiled dining at Ellis Island Is Typical of the Whole Smooth-Running Régime. Here, Good, Nourishing, Appetizing Food Helps Along the Favorable Impression New-Comers to the United States Take Away with Them from Ellis Island. Photo © 1923 Brown Bros. The Cunarder, September 1923. GGA Image ID # 1fb978ec4c

Immigration Documents Information

• Document Name: Inspection Card
• Dimensions: 16.6 x 12.5 cm
• Document Name: Immigration ID Tag - Outer Garment
• Dimensions: 11 x 14.7 cm
• Length of String: Approximately 32 cm

📜 1923 Holland-America Line Inspection Card – The First Step in Processing

💡 Why It Matters:

🔹 This card served as a health inspection and vaccination record for third-class passengers.

🔹 Barbara Vitkiene’s port of departure (Rotterdam), date of arrival (October 6, 1923), and ship (SS Ryndam) are documented.

🔹 The U.S. Public Health Service stamp confirms that she passed medical inspections at Ellis Island.

🔹 The ten holes punched by the ship’s surgeon indicate that she underwent daily health screenings during the voyage.

📌 For historians, this card highlights the rigorous medical inspections immigrants underwent before setting foot in America.

🆔 Immigrant ID Tag – A Wearable Identity Document

💡 Why It Matters:

This paper tag, attached to the immigrant’s outer garment, was worn throughout the Ellis Island inspection process.

The tag identifies her passenger manifest number, allowing immigration officials to quickly locate her records.

The back side of the tag contains multilingual instructions, emphasizing Ellis Island’s role in processing immigrants from diverse backgrounds.

📌 For genealogists, this ID tag is a rare artifact proving an ancestor’s entry into the U.S.

📋 Passenger Manifest – The Official Immigration Record

💡 Why It Matters:

The passenger manifest includes detailed information such as:

🔹 Full Name: Barbara Vitkiene

🔹 Last Residence: Kowlisky, Lithuania

🔹 Age at Arrival: 65

🔹 Destination: Kenosha, Wisconsin (to join her son, John Vilkins)

The manifest was a key document for verifying an immigrant’s eligibility for entry.

📌 For researchers, this document helps reconstruct immigrant family trees and migration patterns.

🛳️ SS Ryndam (Rijndam) – The Ship That Carried Thousands of Immigrants

💡 Why It Matters:

🔹 The TSS Rijndam, operated by Holland-America Line, had a capacity of over 1,800 steerage passengers, reflecting the large-scale immigration of the time.

🔹 The ship’s inspection card provides further evidence of strict health measures aboard transatlantic voyages.

📌 For maritime historians, this ship represents the vessels that transported immigrants from Europe to America.

🌍 Historical Context: Immigration to the U.S. in the 1920s

The 1920s marked a shift in U.S. immigration policy, with stricter entry regulations and quotas shaping the immigrant experience.

🔹 Key Immigration Challenges in 1923:

🔹 The 1921 Emergency Quota Act limited the number of immigrants from Eastern and Southern Europe.

🔹 Health inspections became stricter due to fears of contagious diseases.

🔹 Older immigrants, like Barbara (age 65), often faced additional scrutiny as they were perceived as less economically self-sufficient.

📌 For historians, this collection provides first-hand evidence of the challenges Lithuanian immigrants faced during this restrictive period.

📖 A Personal Story: The Journey of Barbara Vitkiene

🔹 Leaving Lithuania for a New Life in the U.S.

🔹 Barbara Vitkiene’s journey began in Kowlisky, Lithuania, where she likely lived in a rural setting before deciding to emigrate.

🔹 Her son, John Vilkins, had already settled in Kenosha, Wisconsin, making her part of a family reunification migration pattern common among Eastern European immigrants.

🔹 Arrival & Processing at Ellis Island

🔹 She arrived in New York on October 6, 1923, after a 10-day voyage from Rotterdam aboard the SS Ryndam.

🔹 Daily health inspections were conducted onboard, as shown by the punched holes in her inspection card.

🔹 Upon arrival, she passed quarantine and immigration screening, allowing her to reunite with her family.

📌 For genealogists, Barbara’s story is a testament to the resilience of early immigrants seeking a better life in America.

📜 Key Takeaways for Students & Researchers

📖 Why This Document Collection is Important:

✔ Understanding Ellis Island’s immigration process

What were the steps for health and identity verification?

✔ Exploring immigration policies of the 1920s

How did restrictions impact Lithuanian and other Eastern European immigrants?

✔ Tracing family histories

How can inspection cards and ID tags help genealogists locate ancestral records?

✔ Analyzing primary sources

How do these documents serve as evidence of historical immigration procedures?

📌 Suggested Essay Topics:

🔹 "Ellis Island Health Inspections: The Immigrant Experience"

🔹 "Lithuanian Migration to the U.S.: Family Reunification & Chain Migration"

🔹 "Paper Trails: How Immigration Documents Shaped Identity in America"

⚡ Final Thoughts: A Glimpse Into Ellis Island’s Immigration Process

This 1923 Lithuanian Immigrant Document Collection offers a fascinating look at the challenges and triumphs of immigrants entering the U.S. through Ellis Island.

📌 It is a crucial resource that helps:

✅ Enhance genealogical research with official proof of entry

✅ Explore immigration policies and health inspections in the 1920s

✅ Document the personal stories of Lithuanian immigrants

✅ Provide valuable primary sources for historical research

🌍 Immigration is more than just numbers—it’s about the people, their journeys, and the records they left behind.

📚 For further research, explore the GG Archives’ extensive collection of passenger lists, ID cards, and Ellis Island documents.

🔎 Looking for more historical immigration records? Browse the GG Archives for rare primary sources that bring history to life!

🛂 Every document tells a story—what will you discover?