Transcript Welcome to the Ellis Island

Welcome to the Ellis Island Interactive Tour!
Get ready to discover what happened at Ellis Island through
first-hand accounts.
Be sure to read the directions carefully before beginning the tour.
Directions
By: Alison Busby
Directions:
1. Work with a partner to complete the following Interactive
Tour – Ellis Island.
2. Answer the questions to the worksheet as you travel
through the Interactive Tour. Each student must turn in a
completed worksheet at the end of the class period.
3. The tour consists of true accounts of real experiences of
immigrants who went through the inspection at Ellis
Island. There are excerpts from the primary resource,
“Our Immigrants At Ellis Island” by Francis E. Clark. You
will discover the process immigrants went through in
order to stay in America. Keep and open mind and be
ready to discuss your thoughts about the process and firsthand accounts at the end of the tour.
Directions Continued
Directions Continued:
1. On every page be sure to:
• Read the text and study the pictures
• Click on any words or phrases that are underlined.
• Click on the video and photo icons on the screen and read any text
that accompanies the photos.
PHOTOS
VIDEO CLIP
• Use the arrows, circles and various country flags to navigate
through he tour. You will see tabs that look like these, along with
underlined words and items that say “Click…”
HOME
Back
• Any time you move to a different page, you should be clicking an
object or underlined word to move to the correct section of the
tour.
Directions Continued
Directions Continued:
1. Ship To America
1.
To start the tour, Click on
2.
After viewing the Ship to America Page, Return to the HOME Page by
clicking
HOME
3.
To continue the tour, click on #2 Arrival at Ellis Island.
4.
Once you reach the “You Have Arrived Page!” Read the information
and click on one of the immigrant names in the bottom left corner.
2. Arrival at Ellis Island
Carmelita Orrificio
5.
Follow the immigrant through their Ellis Island journey by clicking on
their home country’s flag.
6.
When you reach the end of the immigrant’s journey, return to the
HOME page and repeat steps 3-6 until you have completed all of the
journeys.
Home Page
Directions
1. Ship To America
5. Legal Inspection
2. Arrival at Ellis Island
6. Railway Office
3. “Six Second Medical Exam”
7. Detention Room
4. Medical Examination
8. End of Journey
VIDEO CLIP
Not everyone arriving in New York had to go to Ellis
Island. Immigrants in first- and second-class were
processed aboard their ships soon after docking on the
mainland. Onboard exams were shorter than those on
the island, since inspectors were more accepting of
anyone who could afford the higher fare.
HOME
HOME
VIDEO CLIP
Click on the names below to learn about the immigrant’s
journey through Ellis Island
Carmelita
Orrificio
Gretchen
Steiglitz
A Slovak
Family
Timothy
Donalds
New arrivals were taken by ferry to the
main building at Ellis Island. Ellis Island
opened in 1900, the first immigrant to arrive
was a 15-year-old girl from Ireland.
An Italian Family – Carmelita Orrificio, her mother, and eight
children. There are Carmelita, thirteen years old; Antonio,
eleven; Giovanni, ten; Piertro, eight; Anita, five; Carlo, three;
Theresa, two; and the baby.
The mother carries the baby done up in a little brown bundle, Italian style;
over her shoulder she slings two brown sacks tied together in the middle;
in her other hand she carries a huge satchel; she gives the word and
command, and the six children fall into line behind her. Carmelita looks
after grandma, and carries a large carpetbag, and grandma carries a big
bundle tied up in a bandana handkerchief; Antonio carries a little trunk
and a big bundle, and leads Carlo, who carries a little chair that he is very
fond of; each of the other carries a bag or a bundle, and little Theresa
carries a bird-cage.
Click to follow
Carmelita’s journey
through Ellis Island
HOME
Carmelita Orrificio
A Slovak Family – Mrs. Bulenski
and her two daughters, Margit and
Erzebet
None of them can read or write or speak
much English.
Click to follow the
Bulenski Family’s journey
through Ellis Island
HOME
A Slovak Family
A German Girl – Gretchen Stieglitz
She has come to America by herself
but expects to marry a young man
named Hans Leiter.
Click to follow Gretchen’s
journey through Ellis
Island
HOME
Gretchen Steiglitz
An English Boy – Timothy Donalds
He is thirteen years old. He came
from Manchester, England.
Click to follow Timothy’s
journey through Ellis
Island
HOME
Timothy Donalds
Click to see
the 17
different chalk
marks.
HOME
Immigrants had to pass what was known as the “six
second medical exam.” Doctors stood at the top of the
stairs to the Great Hall and watched to see if anyone
had difficulty. If they suspected a person had a
disability or problem they were marked with one of
seventeen chalk marks and sent for a full physical
examination. If they were not marked, they proceeded
to the wait in the Great Hall to be processed.
Click to find out if
Carmelita passed the first
exam.
The Bulenski’s made it through
the “Six Second Exam.” Click
to find out what happened next.
Gretchen passed the “Six
Second Exam.” Click to find
out what happened next.
Timothy passed the “Six
Second Exam.” Click to find
out what is up next on his
journey.
Click to see
the 17
different chalk
marks.
HOME
Immigrants had to pass what was known as the “six
second medical exam.” Doctors stood at the top of the
stairs to the Great Hall and watched to see if anyone
had difficulty. If they suspected a person had a
disability or problem they were marked with one of
seventeen chalk marks and sent for a full physical
examination. If they were not marked, they proceeded
to the wait in the Great Hall to be processed.
Carmelita and her family all
easily passes the first doctor
Click to follow Carmelita
to the next inspection
point.
HOME
Back
List of medical “Chalk Marks” and
what each mark meant.
Other Chalk-Marks:
F.I. – Further Investigation
S.I. – Special Inquiry
T.D. – Temporarily Detained
E – Excluded
D – Deported
O.K. – All Rights
Click to find out if
Carmelita passed the
Medical Exam.
Click to find out if the
Bulenski’s passed the
Medical Exam.
Gretchen passed the Medical
Exam. Click to follow her
to the Great Hall.
Timothy passed the Medical
Exam. Click to follow him
to the Great Hall.
PHOTOS
HOME
A complete medical exam was required for
every immigrant. Doctors were looking for
people with contagious diseases or conditions
that would make them unable to work. If the
condition was curable, they were sent to the
island’s hospital. If it could not be cured, they
were sent back to their home country.
HOME
The second one examines the
baby’s eyes very carefully, but at
last passes them all on.
Click to follow Carmelita
to the next inspection
point.
HOME
One child has some trouble with
her eyes and is marked “F.I.”;
the other is lame, and is also
marked “F.I.”
Click to follow the
Bulenski’s to the next
inspection point.
Back
Next Photo
Ellis Island had
15 medical
buildings
located across
the ferry dock
from the main
building, and
included
hospital wards,
operating
rooms, an X-ray
plant, and even
a morgue.
Back
Next Photo
Immigrants were
inspected for
trachoma, a highly
contagious disease
that caused
blindness. Using a
tool or fingers,
doctors would
pinch a person’s
eyelid, turn it over,
and look for any
signs of the disease.
If an immigrant had
trachoma they were
sent back to their
home land.
Back
Next Photo
If an immigrant was
marked with a chalk
“X” they had to go
through a mental
exam to test their
intelligence. The
exams often
consisted of wooden
puzzles of the
human face. If a
person did not pass
the exam they would
be sent back to their
home country.
Back
Doctors only had minutes
to inspect immigrants for
over 60 illnesses. Women
doctors began inspecting
in 1914, due to complaints
by female immigrants who
did not feel comfortable
with male doctors.
The Great Hall at Ellis Island was a large
waiting room. Immigrants waited in the
Great Hall for their interviews after
completing the medical exams.
The Bulenski’s were called for
their interview. Click to find
out what happened
Gretchen was called for her
interview. Click to find out
what happened
Timothy was called for his
interview. Click to find
out what happened
PHOTOS
HOME
The Great Hall at Ellis Island was a large
waiting room. Immigrants waited in the
Great Hall for their interviews after
completing the medical exams.
Carmelita and her family waited in
the Great Hall until they were
called for their interview.
Carmelita and her family were
called for their interview. Click
to move on to the Legal
Inspection.
HOME
Back
Next Photo
The Great Hall is 200 feet long and 100 feet wide — almost the size of two
baseball fields. In 1918, it was used as an enormous hospital ward for
American soldiers returning from the first World War.
Back
Great Hall
Click to find out what
marking Carmelita and her
family received.
HOME
PHOTOS
After passing medical exams, immigrants had to prove they
could legally come into America. They had to answer a
series of questions about where they are from and where
they expect to live and work in the U.S. If their answers
were satisfactory, and if they agreed with those on the
paper before him, they are marked “O.K.” for wherever
they are going. If any immigrants are not able to give
satisfactory answers to the questions they are marked “F.I.”
(Further Investigation), or “S.I.” (Special Inquiry), and were
sent to the detention-room. Inspectors rejected any
immigrant with a criminal record. By 1921, immigrants
had to pass a literacy test and show a passport and visa.
Click to find out more
about the Bulenski’s
story.
Click to learn what happened
to Gretchen during the Legal
Inspection.
Click to learn what
happened to Timothy
during the Legal
Inspection.
The inspector asks the questions to Carmelita because she is the
only one who can speak English.
Click to follow Carmelita to
the Detention Room.
Here are her responses:
“The mother is forty-two years old, and the grandmother sixty-seven;
Carmelita also tells the ages of all the children. Her name is Carmelita
Orrificio, the same as mother’s and grandmother’s. Her business is just
taking care of grandmother and the children; they come from Naples; father
paid their passage-money, of course. “Ever in this country before?”
“Why, how could we be till father sent the money?” They are going to
Boston. Have they a ticket? Carmelita turns to mother, who drops the
baby and bags, and has a great time hunting for it, but at last produces it.
How much money? She turns to mother, and says “Quanti centismis?”
Mother hunts in all her pockets, and finally says “Cinquanta centesimi,”
Which Carmelita translates into “ten cents”; but father is coming. He will
meet them. He is a fruit-merchant. Father will surely meet them.”
The inspector looked cross when he found that mother only has a
little money, but father will have some. The man told Carmelita
that if her father does not come, they must all go back to Italy.
The Orrifico family is marked “T.D.” and sent to the detention room
to wait for their father to come with more money.
HOME
Click to follow the
Bulenski’s to the
Detention Room.
“They come from northern Hungary.
The mother has about six dollars in
money but she expects her husband to
meet her. He is a farmer somewhere in
Pennsylvania, but she does not know
just where. They can none of them read
or write; the father paid for their tickets.
They are sent to the detention-room to
wait for news from him.”
HOME
Will Hans come to
marry her? Click to find
out.
“She answers all but the money
question satisfactorily. Her home
was in Dresden. She expects to live
in New York State. She has only five
dollars, but has come over to be
married, and expects the young man
to meet her. Her love does not yet
appear, and she is marked “T.D.”
and sent to the detention-room.”
HOME
Click to follow Timothy
to the Detention Room
“He is thirteen years old, and has come over
to live with his uncle, who is in San
Antonio, Tex. He had two hundred dollars,
but it was stolen from him in the steerage
while he was seasick. He has only $1.37 left,
but is sure his uncle will send for him. He
also is marked “T.D.” and sent to the
detention-room.
HOME
Back
Next Photo
Inspectors spoke an average of three
languages to help those immigrants who did
not speak English. There were also interpreters
who spoke over six languages.
Literacy Card in Hebrew
Back
Immigrants over 16
years old had to pass a
literacy test in the
language of their
home country. They
were presented with a
card featuring a
familiar passage from
the Bible. They would
have to read the
passage aloud. If they
failed the literacy test
they could be
deported.
Legal Inspection
HOME
In the railway and refreshment
room, immigrants could buy train
tickets, send telegrams to their
friends, buy refreshments, and get
their money exchanged.
A law passed in 1909 required
each immigrant to have at least 20
dollars before they were allowed
to enter America.
Using the money his uncle sent,
Timothy buys his railroad ticket
San Antonio, Texas.
Click to follow Timothy
to his last stop on Ellis
Island.
HOME
In the railway and refreshment
room, immigrants could buy train
tickets, send telegrams to their
friends, buy refreshments, and get
their money exchanged.
A law passed in 1909 required
each immigrant to have at least 20
dollars before they were allowed
to enter America.
Click to learn about
Carmelita’s experience in the
Detention Room.
HOME
During the peak years of immigration,
detention on Ellis Island ran as high as
20% for all immigrants inspected. Their
stay could last days or even weeks.
Click to find out what
will happen to the
Bulenski’s
Click to find out what
happened to Gretchen.
Click to find out if
Timothy’s Uncle will send
for him
Immigrants sent to the detention room:
•Women and children waiting for a relative or money.
•Immigrants waiting for a hearing in front of the board
of special inquiry.
•Families waiting for a sick relative to be released from
the Ellis Island Hospital.
•Immigrants marked “F.I.” (Further Investigation).
In the detention room missionaries talked with the immigrants waiting to give them tracts and do
anything they could to help them make their troubles plain to the inspectors.
The missionary questions Carmelita about her story.
“Our home was in Naples in the south of Italy. It is so beautiful there! And the sun shines all day long and every
day, and we often sing our dear song, ‘La bella Napoli.’ We loved our dear sunny Italy so much! But we were very
poor, father hear there is good times in America and plenty money; so one day he say good-by to us all and come
over here. He not find plenty money, and sometimes he very poor, and it was long wait; but by and by he find a
good work and begin to save money to bring us all over.”
“Every week my mother gotta letter, and every time it tell how much money father saved. Father can’t write
himself, but he know a boy that can; and mother, she get a lady that she work for to read it to her. We not have so
many schools in Italy, and when the father and mother were little they not have much chance; but my Italy now is
do like other countries and make more schools, and many children can go in the school, but not all. I learn a little,
and the American lady that mother wash for, she teacha me the English. Father, he write that, when we come to
America, we all shall go in the school; so we all want to make hurry to come to this land.”
“At last, in a letter came money to but the ticket for all of us, mother and grandmother and all the children. Mother
think it much work to get us all ready, but we all helped; and, after all, there was not much to get ready, for we did
not own many things; and so at last we all were packed up, and every one had something to carry except baby.”
“Will father come soon? It is long to wait. A man is telling me that, if father not come, we must all go back to
Italy; but he will certainly come, won’t he? You think he come, don’t you?”
Will Carmelita’s father
come? Click to find out.
HOME
After a time the officer comes to the doorway and calls in a loud voice,
“Carmelita Orrificio.” They go out to meet the father. As they pass
through the gateway, the officer counts them one by one, looking
occasionally at his paper. Finding only six children, he stops them.
“There should be seven besides the baby,” he says, referring to his paper.
Again he counts, and the mother counts in Italian, calling out their names
one by one. There surely is one missing; Giovanni is not there. Little
Carmelita runs back, and finally returns, dragging along the missing boy
with a chair in his hand; he has stopped to look at something that
interested him. Father meets them at the gate, and they all embrace him
and go joyfully away.
Click to learn about the last
stop at Ellis Island.
HOME
Later she tells her story to the missionary, and a telegram is
sent to Hans Leiter.
“Gretchen Stieglitz, the German girl, is called for, and is told
that she may go if she is willing to be married now and here to
Hans Leiter, who has come for her. She joyfully agrees, and
she is taken to the other room, where a minister is in readiness
to marry any couples that need his services, since the
government will not allow a young unmarried girl to go off
alone and friendless. They must know that she is married to
the young man who has come for her.”
Click here to learn about
Gretchen’s last stop at
Ellis Island
HOME
A missionary tries to help the Bulenski family and
listens to their story.
“Mrs. Bulenski and her children, the Slovak family, look
up eagerly every time the door opens, and the
missionary goes out to inquire where telegrams have
been sent, and whether any word has come from the
father; she tries to comfort the family and cheer them
up; but the mother is in tears, and at last an officer
comes for them, saying that the father has not arrived,
and they must be deported. They go off in tears and
protesting, but go they must.”
HOME
Timothy Donalds
Later a telegram comes from his uncle, and he is
marked “O.K.” and sent to the railway station.
Click to follow Timothy
to the Railway Office.
HOME
Just beyond the Railway Office was the exit from
Ellis Island. Staff members referred to this spot as
the kissing post because of all the emotional
reunions that were witnessed there. Two thirds
of new Americans boarded a ferry to New Jersey,
where they began the next leg of their journey.
The remaining third took the ferryboat to
Manhattan to begin their new life in New York
City.
HOME
HOME
Click here to view
a chart for Morse
Code.
Back
The first reliable electronic telegraph machines
were built in the 1830s when an American
named Samuel Morse developed a telegraph
system designed to use a code of long and short
pulses of electric current representing different
letters. The code became known as Morse code.
To send a message, an operator pressed a switch,
sending a signal, which sent an electric current
along a wire to the receiving machine.
HOME
Click here to view
a chart for Morse
Code.
Back
The first reliable electronic telegraph machines
were built in the 1830s when an American
named Samuel Morse developed a telegraph
system designed to use a code of long and short
pulses of electric current representing different
letters. The code became known as Morse code.
To send a message, an operator pressed a switch,
sending a signal, which sent an electric current
along a wire to the receiving machine.
HOME
Back
HOME
Back