This collection reproduces 41 bound volumes of reports by the U.S. Immigration Commission, analyzing the heavy waves of immigration to America early in this century and their effects on the country. These reports provide detailed information on the various nationalities of immigrants -- including the Japanese -- and on how they managed to fit into U.S. society.

The Immigration Commission was composed of four senators (including William P. Dillingham and Henry Cabot Lodge), three representatives, and three private citizens. Its reports cover a wide variety of topics: how immigrants affected U.S. industries, cities, and schools; steerage conditions; crime among immigrant groups; immigrant banks; prostitution; charity groups. Also examined are such controversial subjects as "changes in the bodily form of descendants of immigrants" and "fecundity of immigrant women."

The use of these reports will be facilitated by a guide listing contents and locations of the volume breaks. In addition, each volume has a detailed table of contents abstracts of the commission reports, including minority views. This collection will be an important acquisition for any collection in American history, with special value for researchers in twentieth-century social history.