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Catherine Remembers Her First Day in America

 

Catherine Remembers Her First Day in America (Transcript)

Interviewee: Catherine Hannon English
Date of Birth: May 3, 1910
Date of Interview: November 17,1991
Interviewer: Paul E. Sigrist, Jr.
Immigrated from Poland in 1920 at age 10
Ellis Island Collection: EI-116

English (First Impression of America):

There were children coming from school. And they were so sloppy looking. I thought they were orphans or something. I had visions of beautiful ribbons on their hair and the kids didn't have uniforms or anything. Then we got out at, we came up to 63rd Street and then they, the streets were so dirty. Garbage all around the place and I couldn't get here fast enough, that everything was so beautiful and clean and all this. But it, I soon broke in with the whole thing.

Download Copy of Transcript: Hannon English Impression Transcript

Did You Know?

Great Hall circa 1900

In its time, Ellis Island was the busiest federal immigration station in America. In 1907, Ellis Island processed 1,004,756 immigrants, a record number for the Immigration stations. April 17, 1907 was the Island's busiest day,  when 11,747 immigrants were processed.  Today, the US Customs and Border Protection processes over 700,000 visitors daily through 326 official Ports of Entry. More...