[ELLIS ISLAND]. Group of Four Invoices or Vouchers for the Repair and Restoration of the Buildings on Ellis Island After the Disastrous Fire of 1897. [V.p., ca. 1901-02]. Invoices and vouchers on stationery, 3 4to pages, and 1 8vo page. Sizes range from 140 x 175 mm to 265 x 203 mm. Generally toned, rubbed, with staple-holes at upper left corners, and horizontal creases. Three of these invoices and vouchers are signed by the Chief Engineer and Superintendent of Repairs, Alfred Brooks Fry. Invoices or vouchers include: shipping charges from Ellis Island to “C. H. & P. O. Building” [Court House and Post Office], a voucher for the same, an invoice “For repairs to crib. work, and filling for same, and for removal of old ferry slip… Improvement of Ellis Island for Immigration purposes,” and a typed letter signed by Fry to the Disbursing Clerk, enclosing vouchers for the aforementioned shipping charges and other other supplies (invoices for which are not included in this group). From 1892 to 1924, Ellis Island was the United States’ most active immigrant reception station, processing nearly 12 million immigrants during its tenure. In 1897, a fire broke out on the island’s mostly wooden structures, destroying nearly everything (only the Power-House survived). Luckily, the immigrants and workers were successfully evacuated, so there were only a few reported minor injuries and no deaths. It re-opened in December of 1900; these vouchers reflect not only the work required to rebuild this vital immigration station, but also illustrate the bureaucratic process in how the government pays contractors.