Emma Lazarus, who in 1882 assisted Jewish immigrants landing at New York, personally witnessed many scenes like this one, featured in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper. She no doubt had such a scene in mind when in her sonnet The New Colossus (1883), which is inscribed on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty, she described the immigrants as “tired . . . poor . . . huddled masses.” The author of the article that accompanied this illustration was much less enthusiastic about the “huddled masses,” commenting that “many of the Russian Jews who have recently arrived at this port have been anything but desirable additions to our population.” 

Published: Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, August 5, 1882