Ellis Island was was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States and was the country's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The peak year for immigration at Ellis Island was 1907. An Immigration Act was passed in 1924 that greatly restricted immigration and allowed processing at overseas embassies. After 1924, Ellis Island became primarily a detention and deportation processing station for displaced persons or war refugees
The postcards above are from "An Educational Series of Postcards." I chose these two cards for this post because of the Sepia Saturday prompt photo of children playing. The postcard series includes both exteriors of the buildings and interiors showing what the immigrants encountered there. You can see the rest of the series on my website here.
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Great Post I enjoyed seeing all of the Cards in the series.
ReplyDeleteThe date on the postcards appears to read, "1925." Presumably these were displaced persons who had been through the detention centre?
ReplyDeleteI was a little puzzled by the date too. I think there were still some other immigrants, and the photos may have been taken earlier.
ReplyDeleteThe cards both convey messages but especially the first one. To me it says looking forward to a new life and beginning in America.
ReplyDeleteI wonder whether the sam games are available now, or has it become computerised?
ReplyDeleteMakes it all look like a pretty happy, positive time. Not like they just got through a long, tiring sea voyage.
ReplyDeleteThe people look happier than the people I have read about being demeaned and quarantined, their names anglicized to make life easier for everyone (?). Boy, they really had to want to come here -- it wasn't easy.
ReplyDeleteI thought this a very different portrayal of those on ship approaching Ellis Is.So few knew of the MIdwest. Nothing of the sickness, steerage, exhaustion, etc. Nice photos...probably more unusual than what folks, including my acnestors looked like when they arrived. More like huddled masses, they were.
ReplyDeleteLook at their luggage; reminds me of Titanic passengers. I especially like the first card - new life, new beginning - welcome to America.
ReplyDeleteWhat a treasure you have with these postcards. Especially the first one. I might even put it up on the wall- something so inspiring and delightful about that family and the skyline of New York!
ReplyDeleteI had never considered that there was a playground at Ellis Island.
ReplyDeleteOutstanding post! I am especially interested in these in light of my great-grandfather's saga - his family actually arrived in 1994, prior to Ellis Island's opening, at Castle Garden. But I assume the scenes were quite similar.
ReplyDeleteHow were Ellis Island playground instructors trained? Did they have to learn childrens songs in 10 languages? Demonstrate safe sliding technique? Supervise fair turns on the seesaw?
ReplyDeleteReally interesting; it's the first time I'd heard of a kindergarten there. They look happy enough but who knows?
ReplyDeleteThat dormitory would be hell for me.
ReplyDeleteThey dare call this sanitary?!?
Not in my opinion.
But the cards you chose to feature are lovely!!
:D~
HUGZ
What a fascinating take on the theme. I rather like the idea of "educational post cards" I wonder what the modern equivalent would be?
ReplyDeleteGreat set of postcards. I have an Ellis Island pc on my blog too but it was the interesting message on the back that is the focus-http://www.oldpostcardmessages.com/2/post/2013/02/old-usa-immigration-postcard.html
ReplyDelete