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Ellis Island |
Featured on the cover of Heritage Matters, a National
Parks Service U.S. Department of Interior Newsletter Spring 2009
Filipinos in Ellis Island
by Maria Elizabeth Del Valle Embry
It is common knowledge that in the
early 1900s, many Filipinos came to the Hawaiian and Alaskan Territories,
as well as to California, Washington, and Oregon to work in the agricultural and fishing industries. Filipinos
played a significant role in the defense of the country during World War II when they worked in the ships that transported
military personnel and supplies to the war fronts. However, the entry of many
Filipinos through Ellis Island, our nation’s symbol of liberty and inclusion, remains
largely unknown.
The Ellis Island Oral History Collection
is currently looking for Filipinos who passed through Ellis Island on their way to the United States. The research staff
is also looking for those who worked as ships’ crewmembers, were stationed at Ellis Island
with the Coast Guard, or worked as an employee prior to 1954. According to Dr.
Janet Levine, the Ellis Island oral historian, they do not have any Filipinos participating
in the oral history project to date.
Going through thousands of ships’
manifests that the Ellis Island Foundation publishes free online in the website, http://www.ellisisland.org
Maria Del Valle Embry created her own website that listed the names of many Filipinos who passed through.
This list included Filipino non-voting members of the U.S. Congress as Resident
Commissioners of the U. S. colonial government in the Philippines, commissioners Manuel Quezon and Sergio Osmena, both of whom would later become
Presidents of the Philippines. Filipinos who passed through Ellis Island were the Senators, provincial
Governors, diplomats, jurists, writers, educators, students and businessmen/women. It
is also noteworthy that of the Filipinos who entered the US through Ellis Island, most were crew members of ships. Since the
Filipinos were called FOBs (fresh off the boats) by other earlier immigrants, it is interesting to know that they were actually
the seafarers who toiled in the ships that brought the European immigrants to the United States.
Publication of the Ellis Island interview
search will identify Filipinos who may be willing to tell their first-hand experience on their passage through Ellis Island and be part of its history. Additionally,
members of diverse communities like the Chinese, Koreans, Hispanics, and others who worked alongside the Filipinos as crewmembers
may wish to share their stories. Identification with our nation’s history
will undeniably promote good citizenship and civic involvement, a common goal for all.
For more information contact Janet
Levine, Oral History Program, Statue of Liberty National Monument; e-mail: janet_levine@nps.gov phone:212/363-3206x157
To obtain a free copy of the newsletter (while
supplies last) please contact:
Mr. Brian D. Joyner, Editor, Heritage Matters
Department of Interior
National Park Service
1849 C Street NW (2280)
Washington D.C. 20240
phone 202 354-2276
fax 202-371-2422
Heritage Matters, June 2001
Heritage Matters, November 2001
Heritage Matters, June 2002
Heritage Matters, December 2002
Heritage Matters, June 2003
Heritage Matters, December 2003
Heritage Matters, June 2004
Heritage Matters, December 2004
Heritage Matters, July 2005
Heritage Matters, March 2006
Heritage Matters, January 2007
September 2008 issue
December 2003
Heritage Matters, the newsletter of the Cultural Resources Diversity Program of the
National Park Service. addresses
historic preservation
and cultural resources activities as they pertain to diverse communities. It informs preservation professionals
about what is taking place in diverse communities, and offers these communities information about programs and resources from
which they may benefit.With a circulation of nearly two thousand, Heritage Matters has a broad readershiparound the nation.
The audience includes National Park Service and other Federal, State, and local cultural resource management
staff; private sector partners in the historic preservation and cultural resource management
fields; professors and students at HBCUs, Hispanics-Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges, and other colleges and universities; and other interested parties.
Heritage Matters is published twice annually and is available online
Disclaimer:
Maria Elizabeth Del Valle Embry is solely responsible for the content
of this website and should not be interpreted as representing or endorsing the opinions or policies of the Ellis Island Foundation,
National Park Service or any government agencies.
No financial or other benefits will ever be solicited by the website
owner or any other individual from this Filipino in Ellis Island research project
Contact info for website owner:
Maria Elizabeth Embry
2101 Hamlin Court
Antioch Ca 94509
925 754-1795
“Identification with our nation’s
history will foster assimilation and participation in common goals that promote good citizenship and civic involvement”
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