In the first decade of the 20th century, when Lewis W. Hine took his first photo series at Ellis Island, 7 million immigrants came to the United States of America. In 1907 immigration’s peak was reached, when almost 3.000 immigrants, most of whom came from Southern and Eastern Europe, entered the New World on a daily basis. After Ellis Island had re-opened its gates for the immigration procedure in 1900, more than 75 percent of all immigrants who came to the United States entered the country through the port of New York City. In regard of these immigration numbers, one needs to ask how the inhabitants of New York City and American citizens in general reacted towards this mass immigration. In comparison to former immigrants, who mostly came from Northern and Western Europe, these “new” immigrants were not welcomed at all. Severe prejudices had already developed towards persons from countries which many native-born Americans seemed to consider as “undesirable” ones at that time. Mainly people’s fear resulted from ignorance, because to them these immigrants seemed to be an indistinguishable mass which overcrowded America. Many people feared that these immigrants would take away their jobs and living-space. There seemed to be little sympathy for those needy homeless, whose foreign appearance and different customs irritated the citizens of New York and elsewhere in the country.
When Lewis W. Hine went to Ellis Island to portrait those “huddled masses”, he must have had all those fears and prejudices against these newly arrivers in mind. Undoubtedly, there was a “great public interest in the issue of immigration” when he started his project in 1904 and Hine “was by no means the first, or only, photographer to work at Ellis Island.” Nevertheless, his approach seems to differ from the ones of other photographer of his time. Interestingly, something had happened at Ellis Island to make the teacher Hine want to become a professional photographer. I will try to reveal Hine’s personal opinion towards the social problem of immigration as well as his approach for betterment. Furthermore, I will discuss his photographic aims and goals by examining selected photographs of his first photographic series at Ellis Island.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Lewis W. Hine’s Social Photography
3. Hine’s first photographic project at Ellis Island (1904 to 1909)
3.1 Picture 1: Looking for lost baggage, Ellis Island, 1905
3.2 Picture 2: Young Russian Jewess at Ellis Island, 1905
3.3 Picture 3: Jews at Ellis Island, 1904
4. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
The paper explores the role of Lewis W. Hine as a pioneer of social documentary photography, focusing specifically on his early work at Ellis Island between 1904 and 1909. It examines how Hine’s background as a teacher and his humanistic approach allowed him to move beyond prevailing negative stereotypes of immigrants, aiming to foster empathy and support for social reform through his "photo-interpretations."
- The influence of the Progressive Era on Hine’s educational and photographic philosophy.
- The societal atmosphere regarding mass immigration in early 20th-century America.
- Analysis of specific photographic techniques used to humanize immigrants.
- The transition of Lewis Hine from an assistant teacher to a professional photographer.
- The use of photography as an educational and social tool for reform.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 “Looking for lost baggage”, Ellis Island, 1905
Lewis Hine’s picture “Looking for lost baggage” [pic.1] is a black and white print dated from 1905. Nowadays it belongs to the Collection of Naomi and Walter Rosenblum. The photograph shows a woman with her three children in front of a large pile of luggage. The mother, whose face is rather wrinkled, looks older than she probably is. She carries her youngest on her right hip almost presenting the child to the viewer. On her left side stands her oldest son, who carries a sack over his left shoulder. He holds the hand of his younger sister, who stands right next to him. The little girl is unconsciously pulling her lower lip with the fingers of her right hand. The whole family is dressed neatly. The females wear either skirt or dress, while the boy wears a suit, a tie and a cap. The two girls wear bonnets and their mother covers her hair with a scarf. It seems that they have dressed up for this adventurous journey to the New World in order to look decent on their arrival.
All three children look straight into the camera’s lens. Even though they all seem interested in what is happening right before them, their facial expressions slightly differ from one another. The smallest child looks curious, but anxious. Even though her older sister seems to understand that no harm is to be feared, she still appears timid and holds on tightly to her brother’s hand. His face neither shows fear nor bashfulness. He closely observes what is happening. It seems that he feels responsible for his family, since no other male protector is in sight. Maybe he feels that his mother may not be able to carry this responsibility, because her look is weary. She focuses on something behind and to the right of the photographer and her thoughts seem to be far off.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter contextualizes the mass immigration at the turn of the 20th century and the public hostility these "new" immigrants faced, setting the stage for Hine's photographic project.
2. Lewis W. Hine’s Social Photography: This section details Hine's personal development as a teacher in the Progressive Era and how his educational background informed his transition into professional social documentary photography.
3. Hine’s first photographic project at Ellis Island (1904 to 1909): This chapter covers the motivations behind the project and analyzes how Hine sought to show immigrants as dignified individuals rather than an indistinguishable mass.
3.1 Picture 1: Looking for lost baggage, Ellis Island, 1905: This analysis focuses on the human element and the chaotic environment captured in the photograph of an Italian immigrant family.
3.2 Picture 2: Young Russian Jewess at Ellis Island, 1905: This analysis explores how Hine captured the individual grace and dignity of a young immigrant girl against the cold, impersonal backdrop of the immigration hall.
3.3 Picture 3: Jews at Ellis Island, 1904: This chapter examines the emotional reality and individual states of being within a group of immigrants, highlighting Hine's ability to unite fact and empathy.
4. Conclusion: The concluding chapter summarizes Hine's mission to use photography as a tool for social awareness and education, defining his work as "photo-interpretations."
Keywords
Lewis W. Hine, Ellis Island, Immigration, Social Photography, Social Reform, Progressive Era, Documentary Photography, Humanism, Immigration Procedure, Photo-interpretations, Cultural Identity, Social Justice, Immigrant Experience, Visual History, Empathy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper investigates Lewis W. Hine’s early work at Ellis Island, exploring how he utilized photography to humanize immigrants and challenge the prejudices of the early 20th century.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include the intersection of education and social reform, the history of US immigration, the development of social documentary photography, and the ethical responsibility of the photographer.
What is the author's primary research goal?
The goal is to reveal how Lewis Hine developed his unique style and to analyze his photographic aims in raising awareness about the struggles and dignity of immigrants entering the United States.
Which scientific methodology is employed in the study?
The study employs a qualitative visual analysis, examining specific photographs in their historical context and incorporating scholarly interpretations of Hine's work.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body provides a biographical overview of Hine, discusses the motivations behind his Ellis Island project, and offers detailed analyses of three specific photographs from his series.
How would you characterize this work through keywords?
Key characterizations include social photography, immigrant dignity, the Progressive Era, visual storytelling, and photographic reform.
How does the "Looking for lost baggage" photograph reflect Hine's overall approach?
It exemplifies his method of placing subjects within their immediate, often chaotic environment while simultaneously establishing a personal, sympathetic connection with the viewer.
What is the significance of the "Young Russian Jewess" portrait in Hine's series?
This portrait highlights Hine's ability to capture the singularity and dignity of an individual, effectively countering the tendency of the time to view immigrants only as an anonymous mass.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Sonja Longolius (Autor:in), 2003, Lewis W. Hine's Social Photography - Immigrants at Ellis Island 1904-1909, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/41719
