American History - Immigration through Ellis Island

Percentage of Immigrants that arrived to join family/friends between 1900 and 1910.

95%

Steerage Tickets

Tickets that were sold without space reservations by freelance ticket agents.

Hardships of immigrating to America

• Had to wait weeks or months at the port due to the delay in paperwork or bad train schedule (e.g., ship left 2 days ago, the train got here just now, you need to wait a few weeks for the next ship to arrive or the planned ship comes in 2 weeks, the train came to early)

• After 1900, passports & US visa were needed

Questions before boarding

Immigrants had to answer a series of 29 questions before boarding the ship about name, age, sex, marital status, occupation.

Money immigrants had

At least $30, excluding ticket cost

Steerage (3rd Class)

Enclosed lower decks reached only through stairways available after passing through a tiny deck space and the steamship’s machinery.

Steerage Profit

Most large ships can hold 1500-2000 steerage passengers

Steerage passenger ticket: $30

Single steerage passenger feeding fee: ¢60

Profit: $44000~$59000

Housing area of Steamships

Large room, seven feet in height, filled with a framework of iron pipes, with only sufficient space left to serve as aisles or passageways.

Deck Space for steerage passengers

Minimal spaces in the worst part of the ship experienced the most violent motion, awful odors, and flakes of dirt from the stacks.

Dining rooms were rare, and eating took place on shelves or benches.

The toilets and washrooms were inadequate along with the fact that only salt water was available.

Ventilation of steerage

Very inadequate ventilation made fresh air foul in a short time.

Immigrants had to smell vomit of the seasick, odors of uncleaned bodies, the smell of rotten food, and the awful smell of nearby toilet rooms.

Immigrant pass time

During their voyage, they played with cards, sang, danced, and talked (endlessly talked).

Cabin passengers examined at Ellis Island (1905)

3000 out of 100,000 (3%)

Steerage passengers examined at Ellis Island (1905)

800,000 out of 800,000 (100%)

Medical Inspectors

Professionals who boarded the incoming ships for medical examination.

First and/or Second Class Cabin passengers

People who received their medical exams on the ship.

Interpreter (language)

People who translated languages for the immigrants and Ellis Island workers.

On average an interpreter knew 6 languages, yet interpreters who knew 12 were quite common too.

Record for a single interpreter: FIFTEEN!

White Chalk Letters

Immigrants who needed thorough medical examinations were marked with these.

Large X on the upper right shoulder

Immigrants suspected of mental defects

Trachoma

Eye disease doctors were looking for. Reason for more than half of the medical exam. Caused blindness, which also was uncurable back then.

12 years old

The age at which a child can be sent back home or inside the country alone.

Railroad agents

Agents who sold tickets to immigrants who were going either to New Jersey or New York.

Sold 25 tickets per minute on their busiest days.