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These photographs show a tiny handful of the more than 12 million immigrants who entered the United States through the immigration station at New York's Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954. The men and women portrayed are wearing their finest clothes, often their national dress, brought with them from their homeland to America.

Around 5,000 immigrants entered the country every day at the height of Ellis Island's activity.

1905 - A group of immigrants arrive at Ellis Island Immigration Center.

1906 -"Ruthenian woman." Historically inhabiting the kingdom of the Rus ranging from parts of modern day slavic speaking countries.

1906 -"Romanian shepherd." Dominating the photograph is a traditional shepherd’s cloak known as sarică, made from three or four sheepskins sewn together with the fleece facing outwards and generally extended to below the knee, which could be used as a pillow when sleeping outdoors. 

1906 -"Alsace-Lorraine girl." This girl hails from the Germanic speaking region of Alsace, now in modern day France. The large bow, known as a schlupfkàpp, was worn by single women, and signified the wearer’s religion: Protestants wore black while Catholics favored brightly colored bows.  

1908 -Dutch siblings at the immigration center.

1909 -"Danish man." Evolving since the 1750s, the Danish dressed simply, with more decorated attire for special occasions such as weddings or Sunday church.

1910 -"Algerian man." It is noted that Algerian identity is shaped by its indigenous Berber, Arab, African and Mediterranean cultures. 

The photographs were taken by Augustus Francis Sherman, the chief registry clerk at Ellis Island and an avid amateur photographer.

In 1907, the portraits were published in National Geographic.

It is estimated that today more than a third of all Americans have an ancestor who came through Ellis Island.

1910 -“Norwegian woman.” Bunad is the umbrella term encompassing Norwegian traditional dress that is distinctly Norwegian, though the costumes themselves like so many others are influenced by region, tradition and available material.

1910 -"Romanian piper." This particular cojoc, an embroidered sleeved sheepskin coat, is much plainer than the shepherd’s version, making it a more practical, work-oriented coat.

1910 -"Dutch woman." The large bonnet, which is arguably one of the most recognizable aspects of Dutch traditional dress, was usually made of white cotton or lace and sometimes had flaps or wings, and often came with a cap. 

1910 -"Bavarian man." The traditional dress of Germany is known as the trachten, and like so many others has regional variations.

1910 -"Rev. Joseph Vasilon, Greek-Orthodox priest." The vestments of the Greek Orthodox church have remained largely unchanged.

1910 -Italian woman." This traditional dress was most likely homespun and consisted of a long, wide dress to cover the ankles.

1910 -“Cossack man.” The Cossacks were famed soldiers that, by the time of this photograph, had evolved into a military class that served as border guards or police. 

1910 -"Albanian soldier." The truncated brimless felt cap is known as a qeleshe, whose shape was largely determined by region and molded to one’s head. 

1910 -"Laplander." Gákti is the traditional costume of the Sámi people, who inhabit the Arctic regions spanning from northern Norway to the Kola peninsula in Russia. Traditionally made from reindeer leather and wool, velvet and silks are also used, with the (typically blue) pullover.

1911 -"Guadeloupean Woman." The elaborate tartan headpiece worn by this Guadeloupean woman can be traced back to the Middle Ages, where the eastern Indian city of Madras was famed for its cotton making. 

1911 -"Hindoo boy." The topi (a word to denote "cap") is worn all over the Indian subcontinent with many regional variations and cultural significance, and is especially popular in Muslim communities, where it is known as a taqiyah.