Early immigrants were accepted without question. Any laws were directed toward ship owners to limit overcrowding and inadequate food aboard ship. As non-English speaking immigrants increased, laws became more restrictive. Until the control of immigration in New York was transferred from the city to the Federal Authorities in 1890. When Federal government took over, the city's Castle Garden site was abandoned for a federal site called the Barge Office. In 1892 a wooden building opened on Ellis Island, the beginning of the Ellis Island Story. Fire destroyed Ellis Island in 1897 and once more the Barge Office was in use. Finally, in 1900 the Indiana granite building we all know from the famous photographs was put into the use of immigrants until 1931.
The rules and laws restricting immigrants changed even more than the location of the immigrants' entry. At one time 50 cent head tax was applied to each immigrant contributed to the processing cost. The health of each immigrant was rated on a medical inspection card. Ship owners could be fined and forced to return the immigrants to their native village if they were unsuitable for entry into the US. Once at Ellis Island, a long climb up the main stairwell was used to weed out the lame and those with weak hearts. Over time, infectious eye diseases, head lice, and goiters became common medical checks. Later yet, mental tests and literary tests (in the original language of the immigrant) were introduced.
While the immigrant had to be able to work and arrive with enough money to get him transport from New Jersey to his destination, the labor unions pressed legislation to disallow any immigrant with a job contract in his pocket. Thus the immigrant had to enter the country in the narrow slot between conflicting laws ready for work, but not pre- employed.
For the genealogist there were several thought-provoking points. Before they left the ship, immigrants were given a name tag. Whatever the name tag said was the name which with they left Ellis Island. There were no name changes on Ellis Island. Ship passenger lists show those who were detained; either to enter the US after a judicial review or to be returned to their native land. For years solitary unmarried women could not enter. Finally, if there was a death on Ellis Island the burial took place in Brooklyn.
Statue of Libery- and Ellis Island-related Links of Interest