During the late 19th and early 20th century, large groups of people from northern and western Europe immigrated to the United States, like this Slavic woman. An Ellis Island Chief Registry Clerk, Augustus Sherman, captured his unique viewpoint of the influx by bringing his camera to work and taking photos of the wide array of immigrants entering from 1905 to 1914.

Although Ellis Island had been open since 1892, the immigration station reached its peak at the turn of the century. From 1900-1915 more than 15 million immigrants arrived in the United States, with an increasing number coming from non-English speaking countries, like this Romanian musician.

Foreigners from southern and eastern Europe, including Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and Greece, came over to escape political and economic oppression.

Many immigrants, including this Algerian man, wore their finest traditional clothing as they entered the country.

Greek-Orthodox priest Rev. Joseph Vasilon.

Wilhelm Schleich, a miner from Hohenpeissenberg, Bavaria.

This woman arrived from the west coast of Norway.

Three women from Guadeloupe stand outside the immigration station.

A close-up of a Guadeloupean immigrant.

A mother and her two daughters from the Netherlands pose for a photo.

Thumbu Sammy, age 17, arrived from India.

This tattooed German man got to the country as a stowaway and was eventually deported.Read more: When Germans Were Americas Undesirables

John Postantzis was a Turkish bank guard..

Peter Meyer, age 57, arrived from Denmark.

A Roma family had come from Serbia.

An Italian immigrant woman, photographed at Ellis Island.

A soldier from Albania poses for the camera.

This man had worked as shepherd in Romania.

Three boys in traditional Scottish clothing pose at Ellis Island. Read more: The History Behind the Scottish Independence Vote

Russian Cossacks as they entered the United States to start new lives.