Ellis Island in full color: Striking colorized portraits reveal diversity of immigrants who arrived in America from all over the world on the cusp of the 20th century, hoping to start a new life
- Augustus Sherman took more than 200 pictures of immigrants while working as a registry clerk at Ellis Island
- He often encouraged the newcomers to open their suitcases and put on their national costumes or folk dress
- His subjects include an Albanian soldier, a Romanian shepherd, a Greek Orthodox priest, and Finland siblings
An Albanian soldier, a Romanian shepherd, a Greek Orthodox priest.
These are just some of the immigrants who were photographed at Ellis Island, the gateway in New York City for 12 million immigrants as they prepared to start a new life in America between 1892 and 1954.
Their striking portraits were captured by Augustus Sherman, an amateur photographer who worked as the Chief Registry Clerk at Ellis Island from 1892 to 1925.
Sherman took more than 200 pictures of immigrants during his three-decade career.
The photographer often encouraged the newcomers to open their suitcases and put on their national costumes or folk dress, capturing the incredible diversity of people who had landed in America.
Sherman's stunning pictures have since been brought to life in full color thanks to Tom Marshall from PhotograFix.
'These photos were taken over one hundred years ago now, and what a colorful place the world was, and still is,' Marshall said.
'For me, these photos hint at America's history as a melting pot of all creeds, colors, and nationalities.'
These two children arriving at Ellis Island from Finland in 1910. They are most likely siblings and they were photographed wearing the traditional dress favored by Scandinavian countries at the time. The young girl can be seen wearing a love-heart necklace. Tom Marshall from PhotograFix, who colorized the images, said the colors for this photo were mostly 'guesswork'
This Italian woman was wearing a traditional headdress when she arrived at Ellis Island in 1910. 'These photos were taken over one hundred years ago now, and what a colorful place the world was, and still is,' Marshall said
A Romanian piper was photographed playing his instrument when he arrived on Ellis Island in 1910. These striking portraits were captured by Augustus Sherman, who worked as the Chief Registry Clerk at Ellis Island from 1892 to 1925
This Hindu boy was photographed wearing elaborate robes and an embroidered cap when he arrived in the US in 1911. Sherman often encouraged immigrants to open their suitcases and put on their national costumes or folk dress
A man from Algeria was photographed wearing a traditional striped robe and a kufiya, which is a square of fabric folded into a triangle and held upon the head by a circlet of camel hair. A gold ring was visible on his right hand. He was pictured smoking a cigarette as he posed for the shot, which was taken in 1910
Reverend Joseph Vasilon, a Greek Orthodox Priest, was photographed wearing a traditional outfit after he arrived
This man has since been identified as 57-year-old Peter Mayer, who arrived at Ellis Island from Denmark before he was photographed by Sherman
Ellis Island was the gateway in New York City for 12 million immigrants passing through to start a new life in America between 1892 and 1954
While first and second-class passengers who arrived in the US were considered wealthy enough to be examined on ships to America, the poorer passengers underwent inspections at Ellis Island
They came here legally looking to contribute to so...
by Badger100 138