The Galveston Movement operated between 1907-1914 with the goal of relocating Jews fleeing pogroms in Eastern Europe. Jacob Schiff designed the program to funnel immigrants through Galveston, Texas rather than Atlantic ports. Rabbi Henry Cohen helped direct immigrants to new homes in the interior. While the movement succeeded in relocating 10,000 Jews, it ultimately fell short of its goal of resettling 2 million due to issues with ship conditions and health standards. The movement provided valuable lessons for planning large resettlement efforts.

1. The Galveston Movement
The Galveston Movement program operated Under Schiff plan Galveston would be the point of
between 1907 and 1914; the purpose of this entry for the immigrants coming to America because of
movement was to relocate Jews fleeing the the North German Llyod steamship offered regular
pogroms in Russia and Eastern Europe. Jacob H. service from Bremen, Germany to Galveston, Texas.
Schiff designed the program that could support Galveston had a railroad system that went into the
relocating up to two million immigrants into different areas of the “Hinterland” of America, the
America over the next decade or two. In the past proposed area to relocate the Jewish immigrants. The
immigrants coming to America had gone through “Hinterland” of America is the area between the
the seaports of Atlantic seaports (like New York). Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains.
This plan was to eliminate more emigration into
the already over populated, unhealthy living
conditions, the Jews have already put a burden on
the cities for support, and congested communities
of the Atlanta seaport cities. In the 1890’s a few
different organization tried the “removal” of Jews
from these cities into small towns but the attempt
failed.
Background S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port
Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society Courtesy of Galveston County historical Museum, Gift of Judith Edworthy Wray

2. The Galveston Movement
Schiff created the Jewish Immigrants’
Information Bureau (JIBB), to prepare for the
arrival of the Jewish immigrants coming into
Galveston; it was established to "organize an Rabbi Henry Cohen wanted
immigration office in connection with the to help the Jews immigrating
movement which we are endeavoring to to America by meeting with
inaugurate for diverting a part of the Russian. the ships that came into
Jewish immigration through the gulf ports. . . ." Galveston and helping direct
(Best, page 51) under this committee with the new immigrants to new
headquarters located in New York; managed by homes in the interior land of
David M. Bressler, a social worker. America. Rabbi Henry
Humanitarian services would meet with the ships Cohen sent scout’s out to
at Galveston docks and helped the new find new home and jobs for
immigrants through processing into the America these new immigrants and
and relocating the immigrants to their new home tried to relocate them near or
was ran by Rabbi Henry Cohen of the temple by already established
B'nai Israel located in Galveston. Jewish communities.
Rabbi Henry Cohen, second from left
Background S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port Greeting immigrant arriving in Galveston,
Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society Texas Courtesy of Wendellhowe.blogspot.com

3. The Galveston Movement
The Jewish Territorial The person that put this plan
Organization (ITO) located in into motion was Jacob
Russia lead by Jewish writer Schiff; Schiff supported this
Israel Zangwill and managed program by donating almost
by Dr. Jochelmann. The ITO $500,000 of his personal
handled the transportation as money. The Jewish
far as Bremen, Germany and Colonization Society (ICA),
placing the immigrants on the association to assist Jews in
North German Lloyd depressed economic
steamships destined for the circumstances or countries of
Gulf ports. In Eastern Europe persecution to emigrate and
the Jewish Colonization settle elsewhere in
Society (ICA) had formed to productive employment,
assist Jews to new lands; only financed by Baron Maurice
a small percentage came to Above Left: Above Right: de Hirsch who assisted East
America most of immigrants Jacob Schiff Baron Maurice de Hirsch
European. If it was not for
were relocated to Argentina. Courtesy of tmt.urj.net Courtesy of wn.com
these two men financially
The ICA in Eastern Europe supporting the Jews many
was financed by Baron more lives would have be
Maurice de Hirsch. slaughtered, if not for these
two men.
Background S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port
Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society

4. The Galveston Movement
The Jewish immigrant coming to America would have to
face new challenges then previous immigrants faced, with
the hopes of eliminating some of the issues previous
immigrants faced. The Jewish immigrants that went
through the Atlantic seaports are living in large Jewish
communities where they have the Jewish community for
support. The Jewish immigrants coming to America
through Galveston had to face new challenges that
involved their religious beliefs; being located in smaller
towns and not having the support of the Jewish
community. Under the Galveston plan it gave Jews the
chance to incorporate their way of life and their religious
beliefs into non-Jewish societies. One of the biggest
issues was that Jews might be required to work on
Saturday’s, for Jews Saturday is their Sabbath day.
Background S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port Courtesy of loc.gov
Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society

5. The Galveston Movement
On September 30, 1914 the Galveston Movement was
official announced that it had ended. The movement was
a success and also a failure, under these plan 10,000
Jewish immigrants were placed over an eight year
period, but under this plan they hoped to relocate two
million immigrants over a decade or two. Relocating the
Jewish immigrants into the “Hinterland” of America was
a valuable experience, the knowledge that was gain
planning and carrying out such a large plan can work.
There were a few reasons why the movement did not
fulfill their original goals. They need to improve
conditions on the North German Llyod steamships, as
the passages were treated like cattle. The ITO in
Germany was sending immigrants that did not meet
health standards set forth in the immigrant laws and
government regulations. Zangwill worried that the ITO’s
image might get ruined by the failure of the Galveston
Movement.
Background S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port Immigrants on a Steamship heading to Galveston, Texas
Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society Courtesy of mitrasites.com

6. The Galveston Movement
Works Cited
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<http://tmt.urj.net/archives/2socialaction/082305.htm>.
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<http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0011_0_10128.html>.
Best, Gary Dean. "Jacob H. Schiff's Galveston Movement: An Experiment In Immigrant Deflection, 1907-1914."
American Jewish archives SP (1978): 43-79. http://americanjewisharchives.org. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
Background S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port
Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society

7. The Galveston Movement
Work Cited Continued
Bill. "Baron De Forest." World News. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. <http://wn.com/Baron_de_Forest>.
"Checklist of Objects (From Haven to Home: 350 Years of Jewish Life in America, A Library of Congress
Exhibition)." Library of Congress Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/haventohome/haven-checklist.html>.
"Dr. Wendell A. Howe: First Citizen of Texas." Dr. Wendell A. Howe. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2012.
<http://wendellhowe.blogspot.com/2011/09/first-citizen-of-texas.html>.
"Galveston Plan." Jewish Virtual Library - Homepage. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
<http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0007_0_07030.html>.
Background S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port
Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society

8. The Galveston Movement
Word Cited Continued
HENRY, RABBI. "immigration/galveston." museum-of-family-history. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2012.
<http://www.museumoffamilyhistory.com/imm-galveston.htm>.
"History of The Jews In Galveston Texas." Mitra Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2012.
<http://images.mitrasites.com/history-of-the-jews-in-galveston-texas.html>.
"Jewish – Blog - Real Estate - You + Dallas." You + Dallas - Dallas Media. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.youplusdallas.com/cityblog/real-estate/tag/jewish/>.
Background S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port
Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society

9. The Galveston Movement
Word Cited Continued
Schiff, Jacob. "The Galveston Movement - My Jewish Learning." Judaism & Jewish Life - My Jewish Learning. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2012. <http://www.myjewishlearning.com/history/Modern_History/1700-
1914/Emigration/To_America/The_Galveston_Movement.shtml>.
"The Galveston Movement." The Berdichev Revival. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.berdichev.org/the_galveston_movement.html>.
Background S.S. Chemnitz Aug. 18, 1913 Galveston Port
Courtesy of Steamship Historical Society