Special Exhibitions
Augustus F. Sherman: Ellis Island Portraits 1905-1920
May 11 through July 5, 2009 • Main Building, third floor
Opening reception May 16, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the museum’s Main Building
Ellis Island holds a special place in American culture as an icon of immigration. Established in 1892 as the primary entry point for immigrants to the United States, Ellis Island processed over 12 million people before it was closed in 1954. One of the witnesses to this massive movement of people was a clerk for the Bureau of Immigration at Ellis Island, Augustus Frederick Sherman. An avid photographer, Sherman took over 250 portraits of individual immigrants and families as they passed through the inspection process. Often posed in their own native clothing, the people in his photographs provide a visual record of the astonishing cultural diversity among immigrants to the United States.
Many of these photographs are part of an exhibition that will be on view at Vesterheim from May 11 to July 5, 2009. Organized by the Aperture Foundation, this exhibition has traveled throughout Europe and the United States, and Vesterheim is proud to welcome it to Iowa. The exhibition invites us all to look into the faces of immigrants from a century ago—faces from all over the world that communicate similar expressions of hope, anxiety, and uncertainty about what their futures hold.
The exhibition is sponsored in part by The Eric and Joan Norgaard Charitable Trust. Special funding from the Alliant Energy Foundation is supporting many family-oriented activities accompanying the exhibition.
Every day of the exhibition visitors can dress up in immigrant costumes and read different ethnic stories. “Have your picture taken in ethnic dress, make up your own ethnic story, or write your thoughts about the exhibition photographs,” invites Tova Brandt, Vesterheim curator. There will be places in the exhibition to post your writing and pictures to share with other visitors.
Every Thursday during the exhibition, a different immigrant culture will be celebrated through music, crafts, and food (when Vesterheim has free admission and is open until 8 p.m.). Check here for a "Free Thursdays" schedule.