A Comprehensive History of America's Immigration Gateway (1890-1954)
📌 Discover the fascinating history of Ellis Island, from its early days as a military outpost to its role as the U.S.'s primary immigration station. Learn about key events, immigration policies, and the human stories behind the millions who passed through its doors.
Facts and Chronology About Ellis Island
Relevance to Immigration Studies for Teachers, Students, Genealogists, Historians, and Others
Facts and Chronology About Ellis Island offers a deep dive into the history and significance of Ellis Island, providing both a chronological timeline of events and noteworthy statistics about the island's pivotal role in American immigration.
For teachers, this article serves as an excellent resource to help students grasp the operational history of Ellis Island and its place in the broader narrative of U.S. immigration. Genealogists can find value in the dates and facts related to immigrant processing, which may help them trace ancestors who passed through Ellis Island.
For historians, this document is an essential piece of understanding the evolution of immigration policy in the United States and how Ellis Island became a symbol of both hope and heartbreak for millions of immigrants.
Ellis Island Immigrant Depot, New York. The Alien Immigrant, 1903. GGA Image ID # 149aa62bd6
Thirteen Facts About the Ellis Island Immigrant Station in New York from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). How many of these facts were you aware of?
- Ellis Island lies about 1/2 mile north of Liberty Island in New York Harbor, a few hundred yards east of the Jersey City docks, and a mile west of the southern tip of Manhattan.
- Shallow waters were filled to increase the island's area from less than three acres in 1890 to five acres in 1892, 16 acres in 1899, 25 acres in 1906, and 27.5 acres in 1934.
- The immigrant depot grew from three buildings in 1900 to 25 buildings in 1910 and 29 buildings in 1935. In 1914 and 1935, all the buildings were connected by an enclosed corridor.
- The main building is 385 feet long, 165 feet wide, and 62 feet high, with four 100-foot comer towers. Its largest room was the Examination Room (Great Hall)—200 feet long, 100 feet wide, and 56 feet high.
- Approximately 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island, and another 5 million were processed there (paperwork was done at Ellis Island even though they did not physically pass through).
- During the peak immigration years, 1901 - 1914, Ellis Island received between 2,000 and 5,000 immigrants a day.
- Between 1910 and 1914, five million immigrants came to the U.S. (more than in the 30 years before the Civil War).
- 1907 was the peak year of immigration—more than 1,285,000 people were admitted.
- During that peak year, 7,000 immigrants were deported, and 10% were detained for further observation. During all the years of Ellis Island's operation, approximately 250,000 people—2% of the total who arrived—were turned back to their home countries because they were sick, feebleminded, or suspicious-looking.
- Three thousand suicides occurred during the first 40 years of Ellis Island's operation as an immigrant station.
- Approximately 100 million Americans (about 42% of the U.S. population) have ancestors who passed through Ellis Island.
- The first immigrant to enter Ellis Island was 15-year-old Annie Moore from County Cork, Ireland, on January 1, 1892.
- The last person dispatched from Ellis Island was Ivan Pederson (or Peterson), a Norwegian seaman who left the island on November 12, 1954.
Chronology of Ellis Island as an Immigrant Station
1891
The year 1891 marked a significant milestone in the history of immigration in the United States. Congress passed an immigration act that not only created a Bureau of Immigration and a Superintendent of Immigration within the Treasury Department but also installed a commissioner at each major port. Colonel John B. Weber of Buffalo was the first to hold the title of 'Commissioner of Immigration' on Ellis Island, a role that would shape the island's future as a key immigrant station.
1892
The U.S. Immigration Station on Ellis Island, a pivotal moment in immigration history, formally opens. Annie Moore of Ireland was the first alien to be processed. By the end of the fiscal year, over 400,000 immigrants had been processed through the new station, marking the beginning of a new era in immigration.
1893
Administrative procedures improved at Ellis Island. Colonel Weber requires all steamship companies to ask additional processing questions on their manifests before boarding immigrants destined for America. President Grover Cleveland appoints Dr. Joseph Senner to succeed Colonel Weber as "Commissioner of Immigration" at Ellis Island.
1897
Thomas Fitchie was appointed "Commissioner of Immigration" by President William McKinley. On 14 June, a fire destroyed the wooden buildings on Ellis Island. Consequently, all staff and immigrants were evacuated. All immigration processing was temporarily transferred to the Barge Office in Battery Park, Manhattan.
Dec 17, 1900
A new "fire-proof" main immigration processing building opens, and 2,251 immigrants are examined today.
1901
The Kitchen, Bathhouse, Laundry, and Powder House are constructed on Island 1.
1902
President Theodore Roosevelt launched a reform campaign to end bureaucratic corruption and the mistreatment of aliens. Wall Street lawyer William Williams was appointed the new "Commissioner of Immigration."
1903
The Treasury Department transfers all control and responsibility of immigration to the Department of Commerce and Labor.
1904
A railroad ticketing office is added to the main building.
1905
William Williams resigned as commissioner; President Roosevelt appointed career immigration officer Robert Watchorn to succeed him.
1905 - 1906
Through New York City Subway excavations in Brooklyn, a landfill of dirt was used to create the five-acre "Island 3," where a contagious disease ward was eventually constructed.
1907
1907, a year that saw a significant surge in immigration, with 1.2 million aliens examined on Ellis Island, marking the peak year of immigration.
1909
President Taft reappoints William Williams as the Commissioner of Immigration at Ellis Island. Several contagious disease wards are completed on Island 3.
1913
Congress divided the Departments of Commerce and Labor into two bureaus. The new Department of Labor is responsible for immigration.
1913 - 1915
A bakery, greenhouse, and carpenter's shop are built on Island 1.
1914
President Woodrow Wilson appoints the noted municipal reformer Dr. Frederic Howe as commissioner. During his term, Dr. Howe ameliorated the conditions of detained Aliens.
1914 - 1918
The Great European War causes a sharp decline in immigration.
1916
On the night of 30 July, German saboteurs destroyed the munitions depot on Black Tom Island in New Jersey. The explosion shattered windows at Ellis Island and damaged the support structure of the arm of the Statue of Liberty. The island was briefly evacuated without injuries.
1917-1918
The United States entered World War 1 with allies of France and Great Britain. Ellis Island was a "navy way station" where ships could pick up supplies. Wounded service members were admitted into the hospital on Ellis Island. Enemy aliens were also detained.
December 1919
Anarchist and Bolshevik aliens were arrested during the Palmer raids and deported via Ellis Island.
1920
Doctor Howe resigns as commissioner. President Wilson appoints former New York City deputy police commissioner Frederick A. Wallis as his successor.
1921
President Warren G. Harding replaces Commissioner Wallis with banker and philanthropist Robert E. Todd. An immigrant quota system is introduced.
1923
Todd resigns; President Harding appoints former Manhattan Borough president Henry H. Curran as Commissioner of Immigration, New York District (Ellis Island).
1924
In 1924, the United States witnessed a dramatic shift in its immigration policy with the passing of the National Origins Act. This legislation required immigrants to obtain visas in American consulates before embarking on America and introduced country-of-origin quota limits, significantly reducing the number of immigrants allowed into the country. As a result, immigration to the United States, including through Ellis Island, was dramatically reduced.
1929
During the Great Depression, immigration was extremely low.
1931
President Herbert Hoover appointed New York social welfare leader Edward Corsi as Ellis Island's new "Commissioner of Immigration," succeeding Henry Curran.
1933
Secretary of Labor Frances Perkins appoints a non-partisan committee to investigate conditions at Ellis Island.
1934
The Ellis Island Committee submitted a report to Secretary Perkins that contained many recommendations, including the construction of better facilities for immigrants. The Roosevelt Administration acted on many of the recommendations. Through landfill, the island was increased to its present size of 27.5 acres. Commissioner Corsi resigned; President Franklin D. Roosevelt replaced him with Rudolph Reimer.
1939
A Coast Guard training station opens on Ellis Island.
April 11, 1940
Commissioner Reimer presides over the fiftieth-anniversary ceremonies marking Ellis Island's designation as a federal alien receiving station. On 14 June, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was shifted to the Justice Department after being under the Department of Labor for 27 years.
May 1942
Approximately 1,000 German, Italian, and Japanese enemy aliens are detained at Ellis Island.
1943
All Immigration and Naturalization Service functions, except for detention, moves from Ellis Island to the Work Projects Administration Headquarters Building at 70 Columbus Circle in Manhattan.
1948
The Displaced Persons Act allows 400,000 refugees to enter the country.
1949
President Harry Truman appoints Edward J. Shaughnessy, Immigration and Naturalization Service district director from New York, to succeed Rudolph Reimer. Hearings for detained aliens are returned to Ellis Island.
1950
The passage by Congress of the Internal Security Act over President Truman's veto causes a flurry of alien detentions at Ellis Island.
1951
The U.S. Public Health Service closes the hospital at Ellis Island, and the U.S. Coast Guard temporarily takes over the buildings.
1953
On a visit to Ellis Island, District Director Shaughnessy observes that there are only 237 detainees on the island. Still, there are 250 employees to handle them!
November 12, 1954
The Immigration and Naturalization Service removes the last detained aliens from Ellis Island.
November 29, 1954
The ferryboat "Ellis Island" makes its last run on 29 November, 1954, marking the end of an era in immigration history as the island is vacated and closed.
"Facts About Ellis Island," in the INS Reporter, US Immigration and Naturalization Service, Washington DC: US Government Printing Office, Vol. 34, No, 2, Spring 1986, p. 20.
Key Highlights and Engaging Content
The Development of Ellis Island
📌 Noteworthy Fact: Ellis Island's size grew from less than 3 acres in 1890 to 27.5 acres by 1934, demonstrating the expanding infrastructure needed to accommodate a massive influx of immigrants. This is fascinating for students of history, as it reflects how U.S. immigration policies and infrastructure were adapted to handle growing numbers of immigrants during the industrial era.
🖼 Noteworthy Image: Ellis Island Immigrant Depot, New York, 1903 – This image provides a visual reference for readers to connect with the historical development of Ellis Island. It helps to illustrate the bustling nature of immigration during the early 20th century.
Peak Immigration and Challenges
📌 Noteworthy Fact: In 1907, Ellis Island experienced its peak year of immigration, processing over 1.28 million immigrants, a significant portion of the overall 8.8 million immigrants during that period. This fact illustrates the overwhelming scale of immigration and the importance of Ellis Island as the primary processing station.
The article also notes the high deportation rates and the fear immigrants experienced, with approximately 7,000 deported in 1907 alone. This offers educational insight into the challenges immigrants faced during this time, which is critical for historical research on the human aspect of immigration.
The Human Impact of Immigration
📌 Noteworthy Fact: The report mentions that 3,000 suicides occurred in the first 40 years of Ellis Island's operation, which reflects the immense psychological strain on many immigrants, especially those detained or facing deportation. This statistic is impactful for genealogists and historians studying family histories and the emotional toll of immigration.
The Role of Ellis Island in Shaping U.S. Immigration Policy
📌 Noteworthy Fact: The Immigration Act of 1891 and the creation of the Bureau of Immigration established the federal government's control over immigration at Ellis Island. This marks a turning point in U.S. immigration policy, transitioning from a fragmented state system to a more centralized and standardized federal approach.
Immigrant Experiences
📌 Noteworthy Fact: The article highlights the different experiences at Ellis Island, from those treated as "hopeful" immigrants who passed through smoothly to those who experienced the “Isle of Tears,” detained and sometimes deported due to health issues or discrepancies in documentation.
The fact that 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island, with over 5 million processed through paperwork without physically passing through, underlines the scale of operations and provides valuable context for genealogical research, helping families understand how their ancestors might have interacted with Ellis Island.
Educational and Historical Insights
Historical Significance
This article is a vivid portrayal of the evolution of Ellis Island and the immigration system in the U.S. from the late 19th century into the early 20th century. Teachers can use this detailed chronology to explore how immigration laws and processes changed over time, especially in response to political, social, and economic factors.
Immigration Law and Policy
The introduction of visa systems, the impact of World War I on immigration, and the National Origins Act of 1924 are critical moments in U.S. immigration policy that are explored here. This gives students insight into how U.S. policies shaped who was allowed to enter the country and how these policies changed over time.
Genealogical Significance
For genealogists, the detailed timeline provides insight into the broader historical context of their ancestors' arrival in the U.S., helping them better understand the challenges and opportunities their relatives may have encountered.
Final Thoughts
Facts and Chronology About Ellis Island is an essential resource for anyone studying U.S. immigration history. The combination of detailed facts, timelines, and human stories makes this article particularly engaging for educators, genealogists, and historians.
The insights provided into the operational history of Ellis Island, combined with the emotional and human aspects of immigration, offer a rich, multi-dimensional understanding of this pivotal historical site.
Whether used in a classroom setting or as part of family research, this resource will deepen appreciation for the hardships and triumphs of immigrants arriving in the United States.
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