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LibertyHighlights VOL.1, NO. 1 THE OFFICIAL 20TH ANNIVERSARY NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2002 A Twentieth Anniversary Message from Lee Iacocca wenty years ago, in 1982, President Ronald Reagan asked Tme to head a citizen’s group to raise funds for the restoration and preser- vation of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation was soon founded. As a supporter, you probably recall the image of Lady Liberty in disrepair, closed to the public, shrouded in protective scaffolding. After almost a century, weather, pollution, and sightseeing had left Lady Liberty badly in need ©Peter B. Kaplan 2002 of restoration, including a complete replacement of her famous torch. An army of architects, historians, engineers, and almost 1,000 laborers embarked (left) Lee Iacocca, on his way to the Statue (under saffolding) during renovation. (right) The Lady in all on the project—which also involved her glory during opening festivities—Liberty Weekend 1986. the installation of new elevators and an informative Liberty museum in the When the Island re-opened in September that I say thank you for all you’ve Statue’s base. of 1990—two years ahead of schedule— done for Lady Liberty and Ellis Island. it boasted a restored Main Building and July 4th weekend, 1986, saw a gala On this special occasion, please enjoy magnificent Great Hall. Some museum four-day event celebrating the restoration. this Official 20th Anniversary Newsletter. rooms appeared just as they had during Fireworks filled the night skies; tall ships the height of immigrant processing. sailed into New York Harbor. “Liberty Other areas housed theaters, libraries, and Weekend” was broadcast to 1.5 billion exhibits. In the 1990s, the Foundation people in 51 countries. The Foundation, restored two more buildings and expand- the National Park Service, and the ed the museum space. American people had launched the most successful public-private partnership in And as you know, a year ago saw Inside the history of the United States! the opening of the American Family • Ellis Island website—easier Immigration History Center™ We then turned our attention to the and more fun than ever! (www.ellisisland.org), an award-winning restoration of Ellis Island—the largest celebration of our immigrant forebears, • Genealogy Tips historical restoration in the nation’s and one of the most popular and history. Ellis Island, our most potent • Famous immigrants who helpful sites on the Internet. symbol of the American immigrant passed through Ellis Island experience, had become sadly disheveled. The American people figure dramatically • Plan your next trip to Ellis Again the American people responded in all that the Foundation has accom- Island and the Statue of Liberty! with characteristic passion and generosity. plished in twenty years. It is with pride Liberty Highlights 1 Family History Center Search for your ancestors Add a name to the Wall of Honor® Website Reaches 2.7 Become a Billion Hits! member he American Family Immigration Create a THistory Center™ and its history- family history making website, www.ellisisland.org, scrapbook celebrated its first anniversary on April 17 and has attained the benchmark of 2.7 BILLION hits since its launch. The Shop online site continues to welcome over 150,000 for unique unique visitors every week. gifts and momentoes Its launch a year ago made a tremendous impact on the world of family history research. It immediately became the #1 search term on the Internet search engine, LYCOS, and generated thousands of broadcast and print media stories. According to U.S. News and World What People Are Saying About www.ellisisland.org Report, “[it] may well be the most popular launch in Internet history, “Thrilling—I think the work is and to learn that he, as a 16-year-old, eclipsing Madonna and The Beatles.” phenomenal. How wonderful it is to arrived in New York in 1920. I was click right into your history. The website equally thrilled to locate my mother’s While its popularity made access puts you on the edge. Without that guide name on the manifest of an earlier arriv- difficult in the early months, the you would have a much harder time ing ship, and to learn that she had arrived Foundation is happy to report that the searching.” in New York as a nine-year old. I ordered server space has been tripled and that photographs of both ships from your web- —Diane Speno of San Jose, CA your access is now all but assured. So site. The photographs, along with my if you have ancestors who made the “My family is now in the process of com- parents’ naturalization certificates, are journey to a new life in America between municating with our remaining relatives being framed so we can display and 1892–1924 and entered through the [in Italy] and are planning a visit to the treasure them.” Port of New York, we invite you to visit family hometown and hope to meet them —Antoinette Wilson, Orange, California www.ellisisland.org today. All you need in person. All of this is a direct result is the immigrant’s name to begin your of the Ellis Island database of manifests “The feelings and respect that I have for personal voyage of discovery! being placed online and accessible the Foundation along with the website, through my computer at home in can hardly be put into words. We knew California, without having to travel to that our Grandfather Giacchino, our New York to do the research in person! Grandmother Theresa and Aunt Rosaria Fantastic! Thank you, Lee Iacocca!” and Uncle Giorgio came across. As I was scrolling through the ship’s manifest, I —Barbara Clark of Saratoga, CA saw someone we didn’t even know exist- “The Ellis Island database is one of the ed: [Aunt] Maria, 8 years, 5 months. We most important databases in Jewish scrolled to the right-hand side, and it said genealogy, because 95 percent of Jewish ‘died.’ It ripped my heart out. They never Americans owe their heritage to people talked about her. I started crying. I now who came to the U.S. since 1891. It is have taken Maria’s memory as a part usually my starting point when I help of my life and I am attempting to learn Did You Know… Jews living in Russia find their American more about this little angel. Without the relatives.” Family history research is one of Foundation, the website and its profes- the most popular hobbies in America, —Gary Mokotoff, Avotaynu Jewish sional staff, none of this would have second only to gardening! Genealogy Journal of Bergenfield, NJ been possible. I am forever indebted.” “Your website is not only consumer- —Martin J. Napoli, Jr., President of Napco Steel, Chicago, IL America Online Keyword friendly, it provides a satisfying and EllisIsland.org entertaining experience. It is difficult to Tell us what you think! Send your express my emotions when I was able to comments to: [email protected] find my father’s name on a ship’s manifest 2 Liberty Highlights Helpful Hints for the Amateur Genealogist he American Family Immigration Even if you know the person’s first is your case, try clicking “Previous” or History Center™ website (www. name, try searching with just the first “Next” on the search results page to Tellisisland.org) is the most excit- initial and last name, or perhaps don’t expand your search. You might very ing new tool you can use in searching for use a first name in your search at all. well find the name on a manifest located your ancestors. Thousands of people have nearby in our collection. Hint: Not only were last names changed found relatives on this site. Did you? If by immigrants, often first names were so, congratulations! If not, here are some Don’t be discouraged! No one ever said anglicized from the original spelling. helpful hints on how to make your search genealogy was going to be easy. Although Irving Berlin’s name, for instance, was easier, and get closer to the match you’ve the American Family Immigration History actually “Israel Beilin”—and you can find been looking for. Center™ is the most efficient way to find his original manifest in our database! an ancestor’s arrival record to this coun- www.ellisisland.org helps you open up Most manifests are actually two pages try, it might take a few tries to get your the past in ways you never imagined filled with information. The most impor- match. And don’t assume too much possible, but sometimes it takes a little tant is the first page, with the passen- about family lore. Oftentimes, informa- finesse to get where you need to go. A ger’s name on the far left side. tion passed down over the generations Ship’s Manifest is a piece of history and can prove unreliable. Perhaps Grand- history is rarely an easy thing to decipher. Hint: Sometimes the second page of mother did not actually arrive in 1905, When you search the manifest records, the manifest turns up on your computer but another year. Or the name was you’re really playing the role of detective, screen first. Make certain you are looking spelled differently than anyone in your searching for clues to the past. at the proper page. There is a button you can click to enlarge the screen view of family can recall. Or Great-Grandad For instance, is your ancestor’s name the manifest. You’ll find the button in the was listed as a laborer, not the lawyer spelled correctly? Can you think of center of the search results page when he turned out to be in the New World.