Tribute to Immigrant Ancestors

The Ellis Island Immigrant Museum, currently under construction and scheduled to open this fall or early in 1990, will tell the story of the largest human migration in modern history. Part of this unique exhibit will be the Immigrant Wall of Honor--devoted solely to the display of thousands of names of immigrants who came to America during the past four centuries.

Between 1892 and 1954, 17 million immigrants were processed at Ellis Island. Today more than 40%, or about 100 million, of all living Americans can trace their roots to an ancestor who came through Ellis Island. It was there in various rooms of the main building where these new arrivals--often fearful of rejection--were processed, inspected and eventually granted permission to enter this country. The Immigrant Museum, located in the 200,000-square-foot main building where so many of our immigrant ancestors first set foot in America, will offer visitors a complete look at the total immigrant experience by use of innovative displays that feature historic artifacts, photographs, computers and taped oral histories of the immigrants themselves.

The Immigrant Wall of Honor will pay tribute to all our ancestors--whether they arrived at Ellis Island from Italy on the Verona in 1909, came on the Mayflower in 1620 to Massachusetts or from Germany to Galveston, Tex., in the middle of the 19th Century. By making a $100 tax-deductible contribution to restore Ellis Island you can have the name you designate permanently placed on the Wall of Honor. In addition, all names will be entered, together with a country of origin and the name of the donor, in a computer register located in the same room.

According to the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, more than 70,000 names have already been submitted--including the ancestors of First Lady Barbara Bush and entertainer Neil Diamond. Among the names are such famous progenitors of many American lines as Miles Standish, of Plymouth Colony, and William Bradford, governor of Plymouth colony and Pilgrim leader.

Your ancestors’ names can be part of this exhibit also. Many have chosen to honor their parents, great-grandparents or their family name. You may register any name of your choosing, as it is not necessary that it be the name of your immigrant ancestor. When honoring a family name, the foundation recommends you use a first and last name (i.e. the William Johnson Family). If you choose to honor your mother or a female ancestor, list her first name, maiden name and married name.

Brochures and registration forms are available from the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc., 52 Vanderbilt Ave., New York, N.Y. 10017-3808 or you may call (212) 883-1986 and request the information. Deadline for submitting your names is Aug. 1. Your contribution will be used to complete the Ellis Island restoration and for the creation of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. The restoration of Ellis Island, which began in 1984, will cost $140 million. It is the largest restoration project of its kind in American history.

You will receive a certificate, personalized with the name and country of the individual you choose to honor. There is a minimum contribution of $100 for each name to be registered but there is no limit to the number of names you may submit. However, you should list each name and country of origin separately. No titles, such as Mrs., Dr. or the Rev. will be used.

Ellis Island, located just a few hundred yards from the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor, has long been the symbol of the gateway to America. However, whether your ancestors entered via this famous landmark or not, the American Immigrant Wall of Honor there is an appropriate monument to all of our ancestors who came to this country.

Myra Gormley welcomes genealogical questions for her column, but is unable to answer individual letters. For her beginner’s how-to genealogy kit (with charts) send $4 to Kit, Box 64316, Tacoma, Wash. 98464.