Augustus Frederick Sherman
Encyclopedia
Augustus Frederick Sherman worked as a clerk at Ellis Island
in the years 1892-1925. He was an untrained, yet highly gifted photographer who created hundreds of images documenting the new arrivals to America. Fascinated by the diverse origins and cultural backgrounds of his subjects, Sherman created a riveting series of portrait
s, offering viewers a compelling perspective on this dynamic period in American history.
Very little is known about Sherman. Born on July 9, 1865, in Lynn, Pennsylvania
, he was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Hired by the Bureau of Immigration
to work as a clerk at Ellis Island in 1892, eight years after having moved to New York
, he rose through the clerical ranks. Considering the state of the art of photography in that era, with long exposures
and huge box camera
s, the fact he was able to capture so many images during his working life is amazing.
For many, Ellis Island is the ultimate symbol of American immigration and the immigrant experience. On July 4, 2008, the Minnesota History Center
opened a new exhibit celebrating the human story of the more than twelve million immigrants who entered the United States
through the federal immigration station.
The exhibit features 75 framed black-and-white photographs reflecting the cultural and ethnic diversity of people arriving at the beginning of the 20th century. Sherman took photographs of families, groups, and individuals who were being detained either for medical reasons or for further interrogation. In many cases, the subjects were fleeing poverty
, natural disaster
, and political
and religious persecution
. And sometimes, after being detained, the immigrant was deported
. Over the course of his career at Ellis Island, Sherman took more than 200 pictures, often encouraging his subjects to open their suitcases and put on their elaborate national costumes or folk dress. He captured images of Romania
n shepherds, German
stowaways, circus performers and women from Guadeloupe
.
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
in the years 1892-1925. He was an untrained, yet highly gifted photographer who created hundreds of images documenting the new arrivals to America. Fascinated by the diverse origins and cultural backgrounds of his subjects, Sherman created a riveting series of portrait
Portrait
thumb|250px|right|Portrait of [[Thomas Jefferson]] by [[Rembrandt Peale]], 1805. [[New-York Historical Society]].A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness,...
s, offering viewers a compelling perspective on this dynamic period in American history.
Very little is known about Sherman. Born on July 9, 1865, in Lynn, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, he was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Hired by the Bureau of Immigration
Immigration and Naturalization Service
The United States Immigration and Naturalization Service , now referred to as Legacy INS, ceased to exist under that name on March 1, 2003, when most of its functions were transferred from the Department of Justice to three new components within the newly created Department of Homeland Security, as...
to work as a clerk at Ellis Island in 1892, eight years after having moved to New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, he rose through the clerical ranks. Considering the state of the art of photography in that era, with long exposures
Exposure (photography)
In photography, exposure is the total amount of light allowed to fall on the photographic medium during the process of taking a photograph. Exposure is measured in lux seconds, and can be computed from exposure value and scene luminance over a specified area.In photographic jargon, an exposure...
and huge box camera
Box camera
The box camera is, with the exception of the pin hole camera, a camera in its simplest form. The form of the classic box camera is no more than a cardboard or plastic box with a lens in one end and film at the other. A simple box camera has only a single element meniscus fixed focus lens and...
s, the fact he was able to capture so many images during his working life is amazing.
For many, Ellis Island is the ultimate symbol of American immigration and the immigrant experience. On July 4, 2008, the Minnesota History Center
Minnesota History Center
The Minnesota History Center is a museum and library which serves as the headquarters for the Minnesota Historical Society. It is located near downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota and is considered one of the finest public buildings of Minnesota....
opened a new exhibit celebrating the human story of the more than twelve million immigrants who entered the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
through the federal immigration station.
The exhibit features 75 framed black-and-white photographs reflecting the cultural and ethnic diversity of people arriving at the beginning of the 20th century. Sherman took photographs of families, groups, and individuals who were being detained either for medical reasons or for further interrogation. In many cases, the subjects were fleeing poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, natural disaster
Natural disaster
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard . It leads to financial, environmental or human losses...
, and political
Political repression
Political repression is the persecution of an individual or group for political reasons, particularly for the purpose of restricting or preventing their ability to take political life of society....
and religious persecution
Religious persecution
Religious persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group of individuals as a response to their religious beliefs or affiliations or lack thereof....
. And sometimes, after being detained, the immigrant was deported
Deportation
Deportation means the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. Today it often refers to the expulsion of foreign nationals whereas the expulsion of nationals is called banishment, exile, or penal transportation...
. Over the course of his career at Ellis Island, Sherman took more than 200 pictures, often encouraging his subjects to open their suitcases and put on their elaborate national costumes or folk dress. He captured images of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n shepherds, German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
stowaways, circus performers and women from Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the Leeward Islands, in the Lesser Antilles, with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres and a population of 400,000. It is the first overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe...
.