Kenneth and Mamie Phipps Clark, José Celso Barbosa, and Bessie Coleman were experts in their fields and established incredible legacies as trailblazers in psychology, medicine, and aviation. They are just a handful of African-Americans who made their way through Ellis Island and whose passenger records can be found in our Passenger Search database. The Foundation is proud to recognize their inspiring life stories and remarkable contributions to celebrate Black History Month. Click HERE to learn more about their stories.
To find more influential leaders who passed through Ellis Island, including Shirley Chisholm, Carter Woodson, Althea Gibson, Louis Armstrong, and more, explore our digital passenger database.