How Uncle Sam Welcomes Immigrants: A Detailed Look at Ellis Island in 1907
📌 Explore the immigrant experience at Ellis Island in 1907, highlighting the processes, challenges, and humane efforts taken to integrate newcomers. Learn about the improvements in facilities, food, and cultural sensitivity under Commissioner Watchorn's leadership.
How Uncle Sam Welcomes the Stranger at His Gates - 1907
Overview and Relevance to Immigration Studies 🌍💡
The article "How Uncle Sam Welcomes the Stranger at His Gates - 1907" provides a detailed look at the processes and human experiences associated with immigration to the United States through Ellis Island, one of the most significant immigration stations in history. Through the eyes of the immigrants themselves and the efforts of immigration officials, it illustrates both the humanitarian aspects and the bureaucratic challenges of processing millions of newcomers during the height of the immigration wave in the early 1900s.
This article is especially relevant for teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, as it gives an intimate view of the immigrant experience, the inner workings of immigration procedures, and the role of government in managing mass migration. The descriptive details, paired with historical insights, allow readers to explore both the individual stories of immigrants and the larger patterns of migration to the U.S.
A Scotch Family of Seven Daughters and Four Sons. National Geographic Magazine, May 1907. GGA Image ID # 1d9abf7d7b
To The peasants in Europe, the vocabulary of humanity contains no more alluring word than America. It means to them not only the land of the free but also the land of universal wealth and ease.
It is no wonder that those who have labored year after year for a franc, or a lira, or a mark should put forth every effort to reach the Mecca where a cousin or a brother has reported eight or ten or perhaps fifteen lire for a day's work of only eight hours. It sounds too good to be true.
At the piers of Naples, where the liners await their passengers, I witnessed a sight that spoke volumes. Hundreds of Italians, men and women alike, were gathered in the enclosure leading to the gangplank. Their faces were lit with joy, their voices raised in song and dance. It was a scene of pure anticipation, a testament to the hope and excitement that America held for them.
The extent to which Germany has contributed to the population of this country is proved by the fact that over seven hundred papers in the United States are printed in the German tongue. The Swedes are so numerous in the Northwest that a Minneapolis newspaper last year offered Bibles printed in Swedish as premiums for subscriptions. This diversity is a testament to the rich tapestry of cultures that make up America.
The forty or more thousand sons of Ireland marching in the St. Patrick's parade yearly in New York City are eloquent in proclaiming the numbers from that country who have found their way across the Atlantic.
To mention the Hebrews and the Italians is superfluous, as it is generally known that the Italian government is seriously discussing plans to prevent wholesale emigration to America of the working population.
One of the most striking sights in this country is Ellis Island, the primary landing place for immigrants. The sheer scale of the operation is staggering. The force of employees, including doctors, who scrutinize every steerage passenger for their health, strength, and honesty of purpose, is capable of 'passing' five thousand in a single day.
Sometimes, as many as ten or twenty thousand immigrants land at Ellis Island within twenty-four hours. One day during the rush season of last year, forty thousand non-English-speaking strangers were at the immigrant station.
The majority, while strong and well, are ignorant. Half-frightened and awe-stricken, they are willing to obey any orders given by one wearing brass buttons. It is easy to understand why the government places such stress on the selection of officers to temporarily guard the simpleminded wanderers.
The problem of housing, feeding, advising, and directing the vast army of immigrants arriving at the port of New York requires serious and conscientious consideration. Commissioner Robert Watchorn is the chief of authority on the island. No higher compliment can be paid to him than to say that his three years of conscientious discharge of duty have fully justified the judgment of his selection, which shouldered him with the responsibility of impersonating both host and guardian to the one million guests that pass annually before him.
Although the United States immigrant landing and detention station is acknowledged to be the finest in the world, the system is not yet perfect. Perfection in such a gigantic task cannot be brought about at once.
Under the direction of Commissioner Watchorn, these deficiencies are being remedied. Better ventilation and lighting are being furnished in the sleeping quarters, washbasins with running water are installed, and tiled walls, which may easily be cleaned, are replaced with wooden walls. These improvements are a testament to the commitment to providing immigrants with a comfortable and safe environment.
Commissioner Watchorn aspires to arrange these sleeping quarters so that the different nationalities may be separated from each other. Upon landing at Ellis Island, the immigrants are first given something to eat.
The commissary department's consideration for the immigrants is evident in their food selection. They cater to the diverse needs of the newcomers, ensuring there is something kosher for the Jews, spaghetti for the Italians, and sausage and rye bread for the Germans.
There is something kosher for the Jew, who would prefer going without food rather than to eat that which is not permitted to him by his religious belief.
There is spaghetti for the Italians, sausage and rye bread for the Germans, and meat stew, potatoes, bread, tea, and coffee.
To the visitor to New York who wishes to see and learn, no better entertainment can be suggested than the fascinating study of humanity in the heterogeneous gathering of immigrants found at Ellis Island.
Under the guidance of Commissioner Watchorn, his deputy-in-chief, Mr. Joseph Murray, who is spoken of in political circles as the man who put President Roosevelt in politics," and Mr. Harry Balfe, the chief of the commissary, the writer enjoyed the privilege of visiting the various departments.
The belongings of the newcomers were piled high to the ceiling in the baggage room, including baskets, trunks, boxes secured with padlocks, and plain bundles tied in shawls or blankets. Scurrying through this room were men and women who, having successfully passed the examination, were anxious to identify their baggage and be off.
Missionaries of every denomination were going to and fro, talking here with a group and there, distributing religious tracts, rendering advice and assistance, and inspiring confidence and cheerfulness in the weary strangers. Their presence is a comforting reminder of the support system in place for the immigrants.
From the baggage room, we climbed the stairs to the huge apartment used for the examinations. This is divided by wire screens into spaces, each wide enough for a stand-in line. The immigrants pass along quickly, and the doctors turn back the eyelids of each man, woman, and child to detect eye affection.
They untie scarves and shawls to inspect the neck and feel about the shoulders to discover deformity. Finally, the doctor pronounces his verdict, and the lines move on.
The doctors send those whom they wish to hold for further attention to a side apartment. Those who successfully pass are free to look up their baggage and buy their railroad tickets, but they are not yet free to depart from the island.
They must first be vouched for. This great examination room, which visitors see from a balcony surrounding it, is fascinating, and one could watch the scene for hours. But the money exchange and ticket office proved just as captivating in their way.
Here, money from every country in the world is taken, and in exchange, American money is given. In this room, a transportation office also sells tickets to any part of the country and over any road. It is curious to note where the immigrant women carry their money.
None of those seen during my ten minutes at the exchange carried a purse. After unbuttoning various waists and delving beneath an undergarment, an Italian triumphantly brought forth a bag secured by a cord around her neck.
A Swedish girl lifted up one voluminous skirt after another and finally came to one fitted with a pocket, from the depths of which she fished up a little package of money. Another carried her money in her shoe, and at the exchange, she calmly removed her footgear to abstract the bills.
That they search about their persons for their little cash stores without self-consciousness or embarrassment is surprising, considering their diffidence in other matters.
For instance, a member of our party asked a rosy-cheeked Slovak girl how she liked America, and she smiled, blushed, and then burst into tears. But this was probably due more to nervousness than fright.
The immigrants at Ellis Island are credulous to a degree of childishness and always suspicious. This leads to many amusing experiences. A woman carrying a baby in her arms and another small toddler in her skirt passed us. The child was clamoring loudly for a drink.
"Give that baby a drink of milk," said Mr. Balfe, the chief of commissary, to an assistant. "No, no; want water l'' replied the woman with a startled glance. "Milk free—no pay," explained the commissary. "Give milk, then," said the woman smilingly, holding her hand for the cup.
The government allows only responsible persons on the island in any business capacity so that their innocence and ignorance may not be imposed upon them. Food, money exchange, and transportation privileges are disposed of by contract.
Talk about the problem of feeding the laborers in Panama | Think of the difficulty of feeding ten thousand hungry foreigners on arrival. Almost the first thing the immigrant at Ellis Island wishes to do after he has passed the examination department is to buy something to eat and to carry on his railroad journey, for most immigrants leave New York as quickly as they are "passed."
Being utterly unfamiliar with American money and our prices, they would be overcharged and given incorrect change if the government authorities had not extended protection.
We stopped to watch the purchasers for a few minutes at the food counter, where great piles of cardboard boxes of food were piled up. We heard the clerk behind the counter exercise his skill in speaking the seven languages he commands.
A sign hanging over this counter attracted our eyes. It was printed in several tongues and read: '' Square deal to all. Sixteen ounces to the pound. Correct change. Criticism invited. Harry Balfe."
Since Mr. Balfe has assumed the position of commissary, the food sold to immigrants is packed in pasteboard boxes carried by small handles, supplanting the former method of tossing the different articles of food into a paper bag, which nine times out of ten in a few moments after its sale burst at the bottom.
The food boxes are sold for fifty cents and one dollar, according to size. Their prices are marked in several languages on the ends of the boxes, and the list of contents with the corresponding price of each article is pasted on the side so that even the most suspicious purchaser may know what he is to get before he parts with his money.
A box was picked up from the counter, and its contents, as listed, were: two pounds of bread, eight cents; one pound of cervelat sausage, twenty-two cents; five sandwiches, twenty cents; four pies, twenty cents; two boxes of cakes, twenty cents; oranges or apples, ten cents.
There was sufficient to last a family for a day. The fifty-cent boxes contained the same foods in less quantity. The contractor is obliged to furnish foods at prices quoted when the contract was made, and since that time, which was three years ago, foods have advanced fifty percent.
The sausage, listed for twenty-two cents, now retails at all the groceries in New York for thirty cents. A childish curiosity seemed to possess the purchasers of the boxes, and they lost no time in finding seats and taking out the different articles for inspection.
They were all amused and delighted with the pies—that great American delicacy of which they had long heard. They nibbled at the cakes, tested the sausage, then packed them all back again in the boxes and wandered off to look at their new surroundings.
"Have you ever heard of a kissing post 7?" asked the commissioner at Ellis Island. None of us had, so we followed curiously to see one. "There it is," and he pointed to an ordinary black post or column just outside a desk and an enclosure where the new arrivals await friends or relatives to vouch for and take them away—for no one is permitted to land until he has first proved that he is capable of supporting himself or is vouched for by some relative who proves his ability to support the newcomer.
The eager and impatient immigrants wait behind a wire screen. When their vouchers and examination have satisfied the clerks, the gate is opened, and out rush the new arrivals to land in the open arms of relatives and friends.
"They first kiss, then laugh and talk, then cry," explained the commissioner. "Now watch that couple!" Sure enough, they started laughing and talking after the first effusive greeting. Before the brief time the commissioner had given them had passed, they were all weeping.
A commodious, modern hospital is nearing completion on the island and is greatly needed. Commissioner Watchorn said: "During the detention here, many children become stricken with the ordinary diseases of childhood, and their mothers, ignorant and suspicious, go into a panic when their babies are taken from them and sent to a hospital over in Manhattan or Brooklyn, as it is necessary to do at present.
When our new hospital on Ellis Island is completed, the mothers will be permitted to visit their sick very often." One of the pleasant features of the government building at Ellis Island is a large roof garden, which commands a view of the bay and of New York and serves as an exercise and fresh-air rendezvous for immigrant women and children who are detained.
Probably no man in the United States understands the necessity of protecting immigrants better than Immigration Commissioner Watchorn, who himself crossed over as an immigrant thirty years ago. In relating his experience, the commissioner said:
"There were no government inspectors then, only State service, and things were bad enough. I remember how a man tried to cheat me in my change, but I was too much for him." Mr. Watchorn became identified with Ellis Island in 1895 as an inspector.
Since then, he has been promoted seven times, and for three years, he has been the controlling influence at the head of the government immigrant station in New York.
His heart and soul are in his work, and many evils have been remedied through his efforts. Commissioner Watchorn believes in the immigrant and his helpful influence in parts of the country where labor is sorely needed.
Bibliography
Harriet Quimby, "How Uncle Sam Welcomes the Stranger at His Gates," in Leslie's Weekly, 24 October 1907, p. 398.
"Greatest Spring Rush of Immigrants at New York on Record. Animated and Typical Scenes on Ellis Island, the World's Chief Immigration Station, Marking the Admission of Thousands of Aliens into this Country Daily. Photographs by H. D. Blauvelt and B. G. Phillips" in Leslie's Weekly, 18 April 1907, p. 371
Key Highlights and Engaging Content ✨
The Immigrant Experience: Anticipation and Awe 🛳️👥
The article opens by capturing the joyful anticipation of immigrants as they gather at the piers in Naples. The image of Italians singing and dancing in excitement reflects the optimism of those about to begin a new life in America.
This emotional portrayal is vital for students studying the psychology of migration, helping them understand the hope and dreams immigrants brought with them, despite the challenges ahead.
The Scale and Operation of Ellis Island 🏙️
Ellis Island’s sheer scale is described, with the capacity to process up to 40,000 immigrants in a single day during busy periods. The complex system of medical checks, documentation, and screenings demonstrates the logistical challenge of processing such a high volume of immigrants.
📸 Noteworthy Image: "A Scotch Family of Seven Daughters and Four Sons"—an image that humanizes the numbers, showing an actual immigrant family as they undergo processing. This provides a face to the statistical data and helps genealogists and historians connect personal stories with broader immigration trends.
The Role of Commissioner Watchorn 👨💼🏛️
Commissioner Robert Watchorn is presented as a compassionate and capable leader. His efforts to improve immigrant facilities, such as installing better ventilation and lighting in sleeping quarters, separating nationalities, and ensuring access to food aligned with religious customs, reflect a progressive approach to immigrant welfare.
This focus on administrative improvements provides a unique insight into how policies evolved to accommodate diversity and humanitarian needs.
The Immigrant's Journey Through Ellis Island 🌍➡️🇺🇸
The article describes the multi-step journey of immigrants, starting with medical and physical inspections, followed by the money exchange and ticket purchases for their onward journey.
📚 Engaging Detail: The immigrants’ unfamiliarity with U.S. currency is highlighted with an amusing yet poignant description of women hiding money in shoes or hidden pockets. This insight into the trusting yet naive nature of newcomers adds an emotional layer to the immigrant experience.
Cultural Sensitivity in Food and Care 🍴🍞
The food provided for immigrants at Ellis Island is tailored to different cultural needs, including kosher food for Jews, pasta for Italians, and sausages and rye bread for Germans. This reflects cultural sensitivity and the importance of inclusion in the immigrant experience.
The inclusion of descriptive meals ties into the theme of assimilation while also showing respect for ethnic differences. This detail is essential for historians and sociologists exploring the Americanization process.
The Emotional Farewell and Family Reunification 💞
The article also touches on the emotional impact of reunion when family members are finally allowed to leave Ellis Island after passing inspections. The “kissing post” symbolizes the joyful and emotional reunions that occurred, providing a glimpse into the human aspect of immigration that was often overlooked in historical accounts.
The "Square Deal" Philosophy 🤝
A fascinating aspect of the immigration process at Ellis Island was the commitment to fairness in the money exchange and food sales, with signs reading "Square deal to all" and promises of correct change in multiple languages. This reflects a dedication to justice in ensuring that immigrants were treated fairly, even in their vulnerable state.
This ethical approach to trade and service at Ellis Island serves as a model for later immigration systems and is worth studying for anyone interested in government ethics and immigrant protection.
Educational and Historical Insights 📚🕵️♀️
For Teachers and Students: The article offers a unique opportunity to discuss the social dynamics of early 20th-century immigration, the challenges faced by immigrants, and the role of government in managing migration. It’s also a springboard for discussing assimilation, cultural diversity, and the importance of humanitarian efforts in national policy.
For Genealogists: The mention of the Scotch family of seven daughters and four sons and other detailed accounts offer genealogists the opportunity to visualize the conditions and processes their ancestors may have experienced. Personal stories like these can be matched with family research, helping genealogists connect the dots between historical facts and family lore.
For Historians: The insights into Commissioner Watchorn’s role, his improvements in the system, and the detailed examination procedures provide a deeper understanding of how Ellis Island functioned during its peak years. This context is crucial for historians studying immigration policy and its evolution in the U.S.
Final Thoughts 🌟
"How Uncle Sam Welcomes the Stranger at His Gates" is an insightful and compelling article that blends the human experiences of immigration with the bureaucratic realities of Ellis Island during a pivotal period in U.S. history. Through vivid descriptions and engaging details, the article allows readers to explore the complexities of immigration, while also showcasing the efforts made to humanize the process.
For teachers, historians, and genealogists, this article provides both a rich historical context and personal stories that bring to life the immigrant journey and the efforts made by the United States to welcome newcomers.
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