Incredible colorized photographs show the immigrants who passed through Ellis Island 100 years ago

Sarah Jacobs
Jan. 4, 2018, 11:44 AM
https://www.businessinsider.com/colo...grants-2016-10


Subjects were asked to wear their best holiday finery or national dress. Augustus Francis Sherman/New York Public Library/Dynamichrome

In the early 1900s, Ellis Island served as the United States' largest immigration station, processing up to 12 million immigrants between the years 1892 and 1954.

One amateur photographer by the name of Augustus Sherman, who served as Ellis Island's chief registry clerk sometime between 1906 and 1917, photographed a handful of immigrants who passed through. According to the New York Public Library, his subjects were most likely asked to wear their best holiday finery or national dress.

These stunning portraits, originally published in National Geographic in 1907, have now been brought back to life and colorized by Jordan Lloyd of Dynamichrome. Lloyd's technique includes historical research for accuracy, as well as retouching at an expert level.

All captions are by Dynamichrome.

#1.
"Gákti is the traditional costume of the Sámi people inhabiting the arctic regions spanning from northern Norway to the Kola peninsula in Russia. Traditionally made from reindeer leather and wool, velvet and silks are also used, with the (typically blue) pullover being supplemented by contrasting colored banding of plaits, brooches and jewelry."


1910, Laplander Augustus Francis Sherman/New York Public Library

"The decorations are region-specific and the gákti is used in ceremonial contexts such as weddings, or signified whether or not one was single or married, but also served as working dress when herding reindeer."

#2.
"Hailing from the Germanic-speaking region of Alsace now in modern day France, the large bow known as a schlupfkŕpp was worn by single women."

1906, Alsace-Lorraine girl Augustus Francis Sherman/New York Public Library

"The bows signified the bearer's religion: black for Protestants whilst Catholics favored brightly colored bows."

#3.
"Historically inhabiting the kingdom of the Rus ranging from parts of modern day Slavic speaking countries, this example Ruthenian traditional dress consisted of a shirt and underskirt made from linen which was embroidered with traditional floral based patterns."


1906, Ruthenian woman Augustus Francis Sherman/New York Public Library


"The sleeveless jacket is constructed from panels of sheepskin."


#4.
"The Cossacks were famed soldiers that by the time this photograph was taken had evolved into a military class that numerously served as border guards or police. A Cossack soldier was required to provide their own arms, horses and uniform at their own expense."


Cossack man Augustus Francis Sherman/New York Public Library


"The gentleman here is most likely from the Ussuri Cossack Host, characterized by his papakha, the lamb wool hat and the green cherkesska coat accented in yellow. The coat features a number of pouches to house gazyri, traditionally metal powder tubes for early firearms."

#5.
""Dominating the photograph is a traditional shepherd’s cloak known as sarică, made from three or four sheepskins sewn together with the fleece facing outwards and were generally extended to below the knee, which could be used as a pillow when sleeping outdoors."."


1906, Romanian shepherd Augustus Francis Sherman/New York Public Library


"Sheepskin was also used to make the shepherd's cojoc, an embroidered sleeved coat that had tassels, leather strips and other small decorative elements added. This particular example given the ornamentation wasn't likely used for practical purposes given the amount of decoration adorning it.""

#6.
""This traditional dress was most likely homespun and consisted of a long, wide dress to cover the ankles. Above, a bodice and sleeves were tied in such a way to expose portions of the linen blouse and colors and materials were usually regional."."


1910, Italian woman Augustus Francis Sherman/New York Public Library


"""Shawls and veils were also a common feature, and an apron decorated with floral brocades were used for special occasions such as weddings.""

#7.
""The topi (a word to denote 'cap') is worn all over the indian subcontinent with many regional variations and cultural significance, and especially popular in Muslim communities where it is known as a taqiyah.""


1911, Hindoo boy Augustus Francis Sherman/New York Public Library


"""Both the cotton khadi and the prayer shawl are most likely handspun on a charkha, and was used all year round."""


#8.
"The elaborate tartan headpiece worn by Guadeloupean woman can be traced back to the middle ages where the eastern Indian city of Madras was famed for its cotton making. First plain, then striped and then with increasingly elaborate patterns, the Madras fabric that was exported and used as headwraps was eventually influenced by the Scottish in colonial India, leading to a Madras inspired tartan known as 'Madrasi checks,' which in the colonial empires made its way to the French occupied Caribbean."


191-, Guadeloupean Woman Augustus Francis Sherman/New York Public Library


"""Like many of the traditional costumes from all over the world, the headpiece decoration in many cases was indicative of the married status of the wearer.""


#9.
"The truncated brimless felt cap is known as a qeleshe, whose shape was largely determined by region and moulded to one’s head. The vest, known as a jelek or xhamadan was decorated with embroidered braids of silk or cotton, its colour and decoration denoted the region where the wearer was from and their social rank."


1910, Albanian soldier Augustus Francis Sherman/New York Public Library


"Most likely, this soldier is from the northeastern regions of Albania judging by the cut and color of his outfit."

#10.
"The traditional dress of Germany is known as the trachten, like so many others has regional variations. In the alpine regions of Germany like Bavaria, leather breeches known as Lederhosen were worn regularly by rural folk.""


1910, Bavarian man Augustus Francis Sherman/New York Public Library


"The grey jacket, known as a trachtenjanker, is made from fulled wool and decorated with horn buttons, often used by hunters in the region."


For more (because I'm one lazy-ass motherfucker): https://www.businessinsider.com/colo...y-unchanged-21