Lithuanian Immigrant Document Collection - 1923

 

From 1892 to 1954, Millions of immigrants were processed through Ellis Island. This archival collection of documents pertains to a 65-year-old Lithuanian immigrant, Barbara Vitkiene, who arrived at Ellis Island in 1923, including the Immigrant Inspection Card, Immigrant ID Tag, passenger manifest extracts, and additional images.

 

Front Side of a Holland-America Line Inspection Card (Third Class Passengers) for Lithuanian Immigrant, Sailing on the SS Ryndam (Rijndam) from Rotterdam to New York on 26 September 1923.

Front Side of a Holland-America Line Inspection Card (Third Class Passengers) for Lithuanian Immigrant, Sailing on the SS Ryndam (Rijndam) from Rotterdam to New York on 26 September 1923. GGA Image ID # 1fb9057e16

 

INSPECTION CARD

  • Port of Departure: Rotterdam Date of Departure: 26 September 1923
    • (Arrived in New York on 6 October 1923 - Page 217 Morton Allan Directory)
  • Name of Ship: Rijndam I (1901) (Capacity of 286 First Class; 196 Second Class and 1,800 Third Class / Steerage Passengers)
  • Name of Passenger: Barbara Vitkiene
  • Last Residence: Kowlisky, Lithuania
  • Inspected and Passed at Rotterdam: United States Public Health Service
  • Passed at Quarantine, Port of [New York]
  • Passed by Immigration Bureau, Port of [New York]
  • Stamped by U.S. Public Health Service, Long Island, NYC 11 October 1923
  • Berth No. [Left Blank]
  • Steamship Inspection: 10 Holes Punched by Ship's Surgeon at Daily Inspection.

 

Back Side, Certificate or Inspection Card Used by the U. S. Immigration Service for Immigrants Which Indicated That They Were Vaccinated, Disinfected and Passed Daily Health Inspections during the Voyage across the Atlantic, 1923.

Back Side, Certificate or Inspection Card Used by the U. S. Immigration Service for Immigrants Which Indicated That They Were Vaccinated, Disinfected, and Passed Daily Health Inspections during the Voyage across the Atlantic. The Immigrant Was Instructed to "Keep This Card to Avoid Detention at Quarantine and on Railroads in the United States." The quoted Message Was Written on the Back Side in English, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Polish, and Slavic. GGA Image ID # 1fb995456e

 

Closeup of the Back Side of the 1923 Inspection Card Showing the Vaccinated (Signature or Stamp).

Closeup of the Back Side of the 1923 Inspection Card Showing the Vaccinated (Signature or Stamp). This Card was Stamped "Vaccinated/Disinfested." GGA Image ID # 1fb9991fff

 

Immigrant Outer-Garment ID Tag

 

Front Side of an Immigrant Identification Tag Worn on the Outer Garment - This One Was for Barbara Vitkiene of Lithuania, 1923.

Front Side of an Immigrant Identification Tag Worn on the Outer Garment - This One Was for Barbara Vitkiene of Lithuania. The Front of the Tag Identified the Page and Line Number of the Passenger Manifest Shown Above. GGA Image ID # 1fba48526e

 

Each immigrant received an Immigration ID Card that was attached by a string to their outer garment and was worn throughout their inspection process at Ellis Island.

Cruise Line: Holland-America Line

Vessel: TSS Rijndam (often referred to as the "Ryndam")

Route: from Rotterdam, Date: 26 September 1923 (Arrived in New York 6 October 1923)

Passenger List: Manifest Sheet No. 5, List No. 6

Name of Passenger and address of destination

Barbara Vitkiene

c/o son: John Vilkins, 264 N. Chicago Street, Kenosha, Wisconsin

 

Back Side of of an Immigrant Identification Tag Worn on the Outer Garment, 1923.

Back Side of an Immigrant Identification Tag Worn on the Outer Garment. provided the instructions for wearing the ID tag: "When landing in New York, this card is to be attached to the coat or dress of the passenger in a prominent position." The message above is repeated in Dutch, Hungarian, Croatian, Czech, Ukrainian?, Russian, Polish, and Arabic. GGA Image ID # 1fba6a3151

 

A Quick Lesson on Lithuanian Surnames

In Lithuania, female surname endings change based on marital status, while male spellings stay the same.

All married female surname spellings end in IENE. In Barbara's case, her surname spelling indicates she is Mrs. Barbara Vitkus.

Unmarried female spellings end in AITE, UTE (circa 1900 IUTE), or YTE, depending on how the surname ending is spelled.

An unmarried female with the surname of VITKUS would become VITKUTE (or VITKIUTE using an older spelling version).

- Lithuanian Name Change information submitted by Tom Sadauska

 

Postcard of the Holland America Line TSS Rijndam (Ryndam), 12,527 Tons Register. 22,070 Ton Displacement.

Postcard of the Holland America Line TSS Rijndam (Ryndam), 12,527 Tons Register. 22,070 Ton Displacement. Postally used 26 April 1910. GGA Image ID # 1fba7f1948

 

Manifest Sheet No. 5 List No. 6 (See Below)

 

List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival, Part 1, 1923-10-06 Passenger Manifest Page 0362.

List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival, Part 1, 1923-10-06 Passenger Manifest Page 0362. GGA Image ID # 1fba8a7f97. Click to View a Larger Image.

 

Line 6 Part 1 of Passenger Manifest for Immigrant Barbara Vitkiene.

Close-up of Line 6, Part 1 (Barbara Vitkiene) of Manifest Page 0362 (See Above Image). GGA Image ID # 1fbab41883. Click to View a Larger Image.

 

List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival, Part 2, 1923-10-06 Passenger Manifest Page 0363.

List or Manifest of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival, Part 2, 1923-10-06 Passenger Manifest Page 0363. GGA Image ID # 1fbae9d2dd. Click to View a Larger Image.

 

Line 6 Part 2 of Passenger Manifest for Immigrant Barbara Vitkiene

Close-up of Line 6, Part 2. Name of Passenger Residence Arrived Age on Arrival Passenger Record Ship Manifest - Barbara Vitkiene from Kowlisky, Lithuania. GGA Image ID # 1fbb550623. Click to View a Larger Image.

 

The Imposing Ellis Island Administration Building and the Transportation Barges, 1923.

The Imposing Ellis Island Administration Building and the Transportation Barges. These White-Painted Barges, Heated in Winter, Carry Immigrants from the Steamer to Ellis Island. There is an Official Impressiveness about the Administration Building That is Confirmed Later When You Examine the Inner Workings of the System at Ellis Island. Photo © 1923 Brown Bros. The Cunarder, September 1923. GGA Image ID # 1fb914864a

 

An Air Pilot Sees Ellis Island from an Unusual Viewpoint, but Even from the Air, Ellis Island Has a Square Look, 1923.

An Air Pilot Sees Ellis Island from an Unusual Viewpoint, but Even from the Air, Ellis Island Has a Square Look. It is, as Not Many People Know, a "Manufactured" Island, and Cost, with Its Buildings and Equipment, $10,000,000. Its Situation on the Busiest Bay in the World Makes It a Remarkably Interesting Foyer to New- Comers from All Parts of the World. Photo © 1923 Fairchild Aerial Service. The Cunarder, September 1923. GGA Image ID # 1fb95a45a7

 

Their First Meal in America Is a Good One. The Large, White-Tiled Dining-Room at Ellis Island Is Typical of the Whole Smooth-Running Régime, 1923.

Their First Meal in America Is a Good One. The Large, White-Tiled dining at Ellis Island Is Typical of the Whole Smooth-Running Régime. Here, Good, Nourishing, Appetizing Food Helps Along the Favorable Impression New-Comers to the United States Take Away with Them from Ellis Island. Photo © 1923 Brown Bros. The Cunarder, September 1923. GGA Image ID # 1fb978ec4c

 

Immigration Documents Information

  • Document Name: Inspection Card
  • Dimensions: 16.6 x 12.5 cm
  • Document Name: Immigration ID Tag - Outer Garment
  • Dimensions: 11 x 14.7 cm
  • Length of String: Approximately 32 cm

 

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