- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1902-1914", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1902/1914"}
{"value"=>"1939", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1939"}
{"value"=>"n.d", "type"=>"inclusive"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"I. A. Correspondence"}
- physdesc
-
{"value"=>"1.3 box", "format"=>"simple"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>Williams separated his correspondence regarding his work as Commissioner of Immigration on Ellis Island into three sections, General, Amusing and Curious Letters, and Incidents. The General Correspondence includes Williams' correspondence with Theodore Roosevelt, the Mayor's Office and other officials, letters to Ellis Island officers and employees, and letters from Williams' sister and mother about his work on Ellis Island. Williams kept Amusing and Curious Letters he received from immigrants and citizens, some thanking him and some criticizing his work. Williams also received a number of letters from men and women wanting him to provide them a spouse from amongst the arriving immigrants.</p> <p>The Incidents section contains correspondence and other documents relating to four events that took place during Williams' tenure at Ellis Island. The Congressman Sabath Affair correspondence includes letters to and from Williams regarding Representative Adolph J. Sabath's attack on him and his administration of Ellis Island in 1912. Sabath contended that Williams was against all immigrants and that they in turn hated him.</p> <p>The Immigrant House Matter correspondence relates to Williams' investigation of missionaries who were allowed onto the island to assist immigrants. He found that a number of them were corrupt and barred them from landing. The Immigrant House and its representative, Pastor H. J. Berkemier, were one of the first investigated by Williams in 1902.</p> <p>The Joseph Murray Affair involved Williams' assistant, Murray, who was a friend of Roosevelt. Murray received a number of appointments from Roosevelt and did not perform any of the duties attached to these, but received pay. Williams had Murray removed from his post as Assistant Commissioner at Ellis Island in 1904.</p> <p>The McSweeney Case involved Edward F. McSweeney, who was Assistant Commissioner prior to Williams' arrival at Ellis Island. McSweeney removed thousands of public documents from Ellis Island in 1902.</p>"}
- date_inclusive_start
-
1902
- date_inclusive_end
-
1939
- keydate
-
1902
- unitid
-
{"type"=>"local_mss", "value"=>"553554"}
- date_start
-
1902
- date_end
-
1939