Ellis Island and Angel Island
WORDS OF AWESOMENESS
PROCESSING OF ELLIS ISLAND
A. Step 1
1. In 1892, new arrivals were taken by ferry to the main building at Ellis Island.
2. The first immigrant to arrive was a 15-year-old girl from Ireland named Annie Moore who had joined her parents in New York City.
B. Step 2
1. Immigrants entered the main building through its ground floor baggage room.
2. They left their trunks, suitcases and baskets here until they were done with medical and legal examinations which would take place in the Great Hall.
C. Step 3
1. The first test the immigrants had to pass became known as the "six second medical exam."
2. Immigrants climbed stairs to the Great Hall; doctors stood at the top and looked for anyone having difficulty coming up the steps.
3. If a medical problem or disability was suspected, a chalk mark was put on the person's clothing. They were then sent for a full physical examination. If they weren't marked, they moved on to the Great Hall.
D. Step 4
1. By 1917, complete medical exams were required for every immigrant.
2. The purpose of was to find persons with contagious diseases or conditions that would make them unable to work.
3. If their problem was curable, immigrants were sent to the island's hospital. If it was not, the steamship company that brought them would have to pay to send them back
E. Step 5
1. The Great Hall was the waiting room of Ellis Island.
2. Immigrants waited here to be interviewed by legal inspectors.
3. The entire process through Ellis Island took three to five hours unless family members were waiting for a relative to be treated in the hospital ward.
4. Some families stayed for days, weeks, or months.
F. Step 6
1. After medical exams, immigrants had to prove they could legally come into America.
2. They had to prove their country of origin, where they’d live and work
3. Inspectors rejected any immigrant with a criminal...