Ellis Island Record

[delmarco]

Hello everyone:

I just uploaded (finally) a page from Ellis Island. I am trying to decipher line 11's information, especially the name of the person, seems like it could be Ian or Jan?? what do you think?

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... p?pos=-928


url added by Marilyn

[DavidWW]

On the basis of the Josef in line 10 and the Julian in line 13 I'd initially have said Jan, but then I saw the Ivan in line 17

In other words, in itself virtually impossible to distinguish between "I" and "J", but the Germanic type surname of Schwick (sp?) would suggest that Jan is much more likely than Ian.

David

[Russell]

I am positive it is a 'J'

The first up stroke is almost straight and fairly short. There are several other examples on the page.
The first up stroke of the 'I' is longer and slightly curved as in Ivan Gulacian a few lines below.

That's a very angry script. I wonder if they had to work late that night because a ship had just docked ?

Russell

[Russell]

Funny. It double posted

Russell

[DavidWW]

I am positive it is a 'J'

The first up stroke is almost straight and fairly short. There are several other examples on the page.
The first up stroke of the 'I' is longer and slightly curved as in Ivan Gulacian a few lines below.

That's a very angry script. I wonder if they had to work late that night because a ship had just docked ?

Russell

"Angry"

David

PS I've too many grey hairs from the last many years to lead me to a definitive conclusion on the I/J question here. I'd personally lean towards the hand being a "J" in this instance, but would be wary, - those grey hairs again , - deriving from previous judgements turning out to be in error, in very similar situations, - not least the completely unexpected scenario where the equivalent of Mr/Herr Schwick (sp?) in this instance turned out to have Scottish antecedents, and was, in fact "Ian"
dww

[Russell]

Yes David

Almost all the central European names and places have the letters formed with sharp angular stabs at the page. Letters which should have flowing curves don't. they are almost triangular.
Yet more ordinary, everyday words like familiar street names are much more rounded and flowing. Patterns of letters which conform to familiar everyday terms are not attacked with the pen.

At least that's my interpretation of it.

Russell

[delmarco]

Thank you all for your eagle eyes! "Schwick "was not even a consideration, Ive been under the assuption, it was "L" at the start of his last name, I was fairly sure the first name was Jan.

Any stabs at the street name, just under the passengers name??
Cheers
KAren

[Russell]

I would say Brooklyn NY. Lorimer St ?22?

Russell