Alumni recently traveled to Ellis Island to discover their ancestry. The cultural trip, hosted by alumni engagement, included an expert tour guided by Tom Bernardin, former National Park Service Ellis Island tour guide and author of The Ellis Island Immigrant Cookbook, and a private presentation by Cynthia Tosatto Harris ’73, manager of the New Jersey Room of the Jersey City Free Public Library and genealogical expert. Attendees were able to explore their cultural heritage and many shared stories of their ancestors who came to America through Ellis Island; some were seamstresses, some were firemen and some helped build the roads that became New York City.
“It was interesting hearing about the Island. I never knew that people who had jobs were turned away because Americans were afraid the immigrants would take their jobs. In addition, I didn’t realize that coming to America was an extensive project,” said Barbara (Horn) Manger ’74.
“What came through for me was the hard time the immigrants faced coming here but they triumphed. Many of them were able to make great lives for themselves,” said Bill Armbruster ’71.
In her presentation, Harris provided tips for searching family history through the Jersey City Free Public Library archives.
“Get creative when you are looking for family members,” she suggested. “Put names in quotes and try spelling the name many different ways. In addition, try not to let addresses confuse you, sometimes street names changed; sometimes people moved their entire house to a different location.”
Her presentation concluded with old post cards, images and a brief history of Saint Peter’s.
To view more pictures from the event, click here.
