Paul Calle (1928 - 2010) and Chris Calle (B. 1961) "1900s - Immigration, Statue of Liberty" Signed lower right. Original Painting/Mixed Media on Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is the original painting which was published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. Celebrate the Century Series 32c Immigrants Arrive stamp issued February 3, 1998. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." The poignant words of American poet Emma Lazarus' sublime poem, The New Colossus, inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, reflect America's attitude toward the millions of immigrants that landed on Ellis Island during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As the nation's largest port of entry, the island received nearly three-fourths of all immigrants during its 40 years of full operation. Ellis Island received as many as 5,000 people a day, with the peak year for immigration occurring in 1907 when 1.3 million immigrants arrived. Most of America's immigrants between 1905 and 1907 were Russian Jews, Italians and people from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Ellis Island's facilities included dormitories to accommodate 1,500 people, kitchens, a laundry, recreation rooms and a special ferry service to the mainland. Most immigrants remained at Ellis Island for a short time, while waiting for their papers to be approved and until their families' arrival on later ships. Some were detained in quarantine for health checks. The massive immigration during the early 20th century helped to establish America as a melting pot of many cultures, providing people from all over the world with a new beginning. Image Size: 16.5 x 14.25 in. Overall Size: 22.25 x 16 in. Unframed. (B15834 / B15835)