Views from the Digital Collections: Immigrants Arriving at Ellis Island

By Carrie McBride, Communications
April 14, 2022
Ellis Island Immigration Station exterior

View of the Immigration Station, Ellis Island

Photo by Edwin Levick. NYPL Digital Collections: Image ID: 416766

On April 17, 1907 a record-breaking 11,000 immigrants arrived in the U.S. through Ellis Island. For this reason, the week surrounding this date is used to celebrate Immigrant Heritage Week in New York City and honor the many contributions immigrants have made to our city throughout its history.

The New York Public Library's Digital Collections contain many photographs of the Ellis Island facilities and the people who arrived there from all over the world seeking a better life for themselves and their families. A sampling of photographs is below and we invite you to explore more. The majority of the photographs were taken by Augustus Sherman, who worked as a clerk on Ellis Island from 1892 to 1925, and social photographer Lewis Wickes Hine.

official at Ellis Island interviewing a man

Interpreter and recorder interviewing newcomers, Ellis Island, New York.

Photo by Lewis Wickes Hine, 1908. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 79880

Three women in long, billowing dresses and wearing hats

Three women from Guadeloupe.

Photo by Augustus Sherman. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 1206544

eight children lined up by height next to their parents

A family of seven sons and one daughter, Ellis Island, New York.

Photo by Lewis Wickes Hine. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 79883

two young children holding hands wearing traditional Swedish clothing

Photo by Augustus Sherman. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 1206547

rows of long tables with people seated eating

Immigrants being served a meal at Ellis Island.

Photo by Edwin Levick. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 416780

an older woman with a white shawl around her head looks skyward

Jewish grandmother.

Photo by Lewis Wickes Hine, 1926. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 79877

a woman, baby and two children surrounded by luggage

Italian family looking for lost baggage, Ellis Island.

Photo by Lewis Wickes Hine, 1905. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 79878

two women, seated, wearing traditional Dutch headwear

Photo by Augustus Sherman. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 801544

teenage boy in profile wearing a fez

Hindoo boy.

Photo by Augustus Sherman, 1908. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 418056

shirtless young man with arms crossed and tattoos on his chest and arms

German stowaway.

Photo by Augustus Sherman, 1911. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 418057

Group photograph of newly-arrived immigrants in native costumes, some with turbans, some with fezzes.

Group photograph of newly-arrived immigrants in native costumes, some with turbans, some with fezzes.

NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 417072

woman on a bench leaning against a stuffed bag of belongings

Immigrant woman at Ellis Island

Photo by Lewis Wickes Hine, 1905. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 79889