Emigrants Landing at Ellis Island

1903 Documentary 140 feet Directed by A.C. Abadie

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About Emigrants Landing at Ellis Island

The steam ferry William Myers, crowded with newly arrived passengers, approaches a dock at Ellis Island. The boat ties up, a gangway is set, and the passengers walk off and cross in front of the camera.

Cast & crew

More about Emigrants Landing at Ellis Island

Alfred C. Abadie photographed it on 9 July 1903. Thomas A. Edison copyrighted it on 24 July 1903 as H33775. Edison released it in August 1903 at 140 feet. The company catalog called it a barge of people of every nationality leaving the boat.

Themes

  • A ferry docking
  • Passengers walking onto Ellis Island
  • Ellis Island
  • William Myers
  • ferry
  • gangway
  • immigrants
  • Edison actuality

Background

Ellis Island was the main New York inspection station for transatlantic arrivals in 1903. Edison sold the view as a catalog actuality.

Making

Abadie set the camera on the dock so the line of passengers passes close to the lens after they leave the gangway.

Look

Alfred C. Abadie filmed the ferry and the dock in a single outdoor view.

Preservation

The Library of Congress holds a paper-print copy from the 1903 copyright deposit. The National Film Registry selected the film in 2019.

Notes

  • An alternate title is Immigrants Landing at Ellis Island.
  • The Library of Congress paper print identifies the ferry as William Myers.
  • The shot is one arrival: docking, gangway, and the walk onto the pier.
  • The National Film Registry added it in 2019.

Scenes

  • Passengers come up the gangway of the William Myers and file past the camera.

Also available

  • Internet Archive (silent-emigrants-landing-at-ellis-island)

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