Why go
Knowing the order of inspection makes the Main Building more intelligible. Doctors watched for visible health concerns, while legal inspectors compared answers with ship manifests. Most people moved through in hours, but a smaller number faced further examination or exclusion.
The full story
Steerage passengers reached Ellis Island after their ships docked in New York. If documents were in order and no health concern arose, inspection could take a few hours. In the Registry Room, doctors made a rapid first assessment as people passed. Legal inspectors then questioned arrivals against information recorded in the ship’s manifest at the port of departure. The Public Health Service and the Bureau of Immigration carried out different parts of this process. The majority of people were admitted, while about two percent were excluded. A contagious disease or a legal judgment that someone was likely to need public support could prevent entry; contract labor rules were another barrier. These decisions carried consequences far beyond the room itself. As you look around the Registry Room, picture both the speed required to handle large numbers and the uncertainty faced by a person waiting for an individual ruling.