| Immigrants that passed through Ellis Island underwent a physical examination. Many did not realize that their exam began as they started to climb the staircase which led from the baggage area up to the Great Hall. Doctors stood at the top of the stairs seaching for anyone having difficulty carring their bags, limping, breathing too hard, or even sweating too much. If the doctor found evidence of disease or a disabling condition, their clothing was marked with a symbol. Each symbol had a special meaning. |
.
| X | Suspected Mental Defect |
| Circled X | Definite signs of Mental Defect |
| B | Black |
| C | Conjunctivitis |
| CT | Trachoma |
| E | Eyes |
| F | Face |
| FT | Feet |
| G | Goiter |
| H | Heart |
| K | Hernia |
| N | Neck |
| L | Lameness |
| P | Physical and Lungs |
| PG | Pregnancy |
| SC | Scalp (Fungus) |
| S | Senility |
| SI | Special Inquiry |
| It's been said that some very savy immigrants wore reversible clothing
as "insurance." If they received a chalk mark, when opportunity presented
itself, they turned their coats inside out and continued on without
undergoing the more thorough exam. "Marked" immigrants were
escorted by guards to other examination areas. There they were checked
by another doctor for the ailment indicated by the chalkmark. If
the second physician deemed it necessary, the person was sent to the hospital,
hopefully to recover. If the ailment or disability was incurable
the immigrant was sent back to his/her port of origin.
If the marked immigrant passed the physical exam they returned to the Great Hall for further processing. Meanwhile, unmarked immigrants continued through the lines and underwent questionable mental and medical exams including the dreaded "buttonhook exam." It's been said that a doctor used an ordinary button hook (the kind used to button the high top laced shoes of the era) and placed it over the eyelid. He then pulled the eyelid back to search for trachoma, a highly contagious illness that at that time resulted in blindnes. In the Great Hall uniformed officials sat behind high desks and questioned the immigrants. Translators shouted their questions over a bable of voices. A wrong or suspicious answer by the immigrant would result in his removal from the line by a guard. The guard would mark "SI" for "Special Inquiry" on the immigrant's shoulder or lapel. Later all those marked "SI" would meet with a board of interrogators in an inquiry room. Three of the most difficult questions for immigrants were: (1) For single women "Who sent for you?" If she answered "my fiance" she usually stayed at Ellis Island until the man arrived. Sometimes officials required that the marriage ceremony be performed on Ellis Island. (2) "Do you have a job waiting?" (3) "Who paid your passage?" These last two questions were especially difficult for poor immigrants because many had signed labor contacts in the old country agreeing to work for exploitative wages in return for a ticket. The problem was that this practice was illegal in the United States. |
Four essays on immigration in the 1920's. - The essays involve topics such as national identity in connection with immigration, legal forms of racism against immigrants, and faulty research done by the federal government dealing with immigration. The essays were written as part of a course at James Madison College, a residential institution at Michigan State Universitys under the direction of Professor Richard Evans.
© 1999 Annita Zalenski
