ANNA FINKELSTEIN AND SARAH FINKELSTEIN - TEMPORARY DETENTION AT ELLIS ISLAND - JULY 8-9, 1904

DOCUMENT: finkelstein-anna-and-sarah-temporary-detention-1904.gif (look especially at row 13)

NOTES:

• This "Record of Aliens Held for Special Inquiry" lists passengers from Sarah and Anna's voyage on the Carpathia who were temporarily detained at Ellis Island. Many immigrants were detained and brought before a Board of Special Inquiry which determined whether to admit them to the U.S.
• This document shows that Sarah and Anna were detained overnight and admitted the following day.
• Line 13 appears to read as follows:

  Name: Finkelstein Sure + dau [presumably this means "daughter"]
  Group: V
  Number: 27/28
  Number of aliens: 2
  Cause of Detention: LPC [this Stands for "Likely Public Charge" meaning the inspector judged them unlikely to be able to support themselves -- see Causes (Grounds) for Exclusion Noted on BSI Lists, ca. 1903-1924.)
  Inspector: ?
  Actions of the Boards of Special Inquiry: Admitted
  Date: 7/9 [i.e., July 9]
  Page: 138
  Sec'y: Curry [presumably this is the name of the Secretary who recorded the Board's decision]
  Time: 1:55
  Meals:

  • Breakfast: 2
  • Dinner: 4
  • Supper: 2 [The cost of detainees' meals was apparently charged to the shipping company; presumably this shows that Sarah and Anna were given dinner [i.e., lunch] and supper on the day they arrived (July 8) and breakfast and dinner the next day, before being admitted at 1:55 p.m.]

• There is no indication as to why Sarah and Anna were released from detention and admitted to the U.S., but the most likely scenario seems to be that Sarah's son (Anna's older brother) came to get them and presumably told the officials he would support them. (On the ship manifest he was listed as the person who had paid for their steamship tickets and as the relative they were going to join.)