Booklist Review
Another fine volume linked to the renovation of Ellis Island. While Wilton Tifft's photo~documentary [BKL D 1 90] focused on the island itself, this jam-packed history, written by a curator of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, concentrates on the people who flowed through the daunting immigration facilities. Descriptions of grueling voyages and the "chaos, confusion, and noise" of the island usher us into an overview of the peak years of immigration, 1880-1924. Photographs and quotes, culled from the thousands of pictures, letters, memorabilia, and recorded oral histories sent to the museum by immigrants and their descendants, grace every page. The fate of individuals and families in their chosen land is chronicled through personal histories and anecdotes, demonstrating how the legions that landed on Ellis Island spread out across the nation. Superbly detailed and vivid, this will be relevant to almost everyone. ~--Donna Seaman
Library Journal Review
For the millions of immigrants who entered the United States through Ellis Island, this volume represents a visual compilation of once-in-a-lifetime memories. There are literally hundreds of photos from the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, which opened last September. The illustrations are complemented by an inviting narrative detailing the experiences of immigrants in their own words. Divided into four sections, the volume also traces the history of Ellis Island from an immigrant landmark to a national museum. Highly recommended for all libraries.--Boyd Childress, Auburn Univ. Lib., Ala. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
