"Penguini" <detto@fatto.it> wrote in message news:Ikpfg.386$jB5.215@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net... > "The Wanderer" <rosieonmychest@nyc.rr.com> ha scritto > news:E0kfg.3405$%h.412@news-wrt-01.rdc-nyc.rr.com: > >> My great grand father came over from Italy in 1892 when Ellis Island >> was brand new. Did he have to bring any papers with him in order to be >> processed? > <snip> > I believe Italy did not issue passports until 1901 so your ancestor may > not have needed any documents. My grandfather immigrated from Italy to the U. S. in 1893. He sailed from Naples on 31 Dec 1892 and arrived in Ellis Island on 3 Feb 1893. He and his brother were issued a "Passaporto -- In Nome di Sua Maesta Umberto I per grazie de dio e per volonta della nazxione re d'italia Il Ministro per gli Affari Esteri prega le Autorita Civilie e Militare di Sua Maesta e elle Potenze amiche el alleate dilasciar liberamente passare, etc." The document issued pm 13 Nov 1892 is entirely in Italian and it appears to me it is a passport and/or permission to leave Italy. Whether my grandfather and his brother had to present this to the authorities at Ellis Island is unknown. Mike