When restrictive immigration laws were introduced in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries; they involved new requirements for photographing and documenting immigrants--regulations for visually inspecting race and health. This work is the first to take a comprehensive look at the history of immigration policy in the United States through the prism of visual culture. Including many previously unpublished images; and taking a new look at Lewis Hine's photographs; Anna Pegler-Gordon considers the role and uses of visual documentation at Angel Island for Chinese immigrants; at Ellis Island for European immigrants; and on the U.S.-Mexico border. Including fascinating close visual analysis and detailed histories of immigrants in addition to the perspectives of officials; this richly illustrated book traces how visual regulations became central in the early development of U.S. immigration policy and in the introduction of racial immigration restrictions. In so doing; it provides the historical context for understanding more recent developments in immigration policy and; at the same time; sheds new light on the cultural history of American photography.
#108476 in Books 2004-12-09Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 .97 x 6.42 x 8.26l; .98 #File Name: 0520243854379 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Good account of a world traveller I had never heard ofBy Trainman95630I liked this book and read it within several months of reading The Adventures of Marco Polo. Both men travelled Asia in approximately the same time frame (Battuta was appx 30 years later). I found this book to be somewhat better than the Marco Polo book. Mr Dunn provided great background on the historical forces that Battuta was encountering as he travelled. I felt like I got to know the character of Battuta more so than Polo. On the other hand some more excerpts from Battuta's rihala would have made the book better. Would have liked to have read more of his views and descriptions of the customs of the people he visited. Overall a good read though.12 of 12 people found the following review helpful. Easily one of the best nonfiction books i've ever read!By jeff wadeThis should almost be required reading in colleges; especially with the current geopolitical situation. It isn't just a translation of Ibn Battuta's book; it's at least 50% background material on the places he visited the people he met with considerable historical info from before; during; and after Ibn's travels. The writing is excellent and easy to get through. It easily ranks next to Plutarch (in a good translation) and Gibbon for it's grand overview of a largely unknown area of history the world (at least in the West).This was such a good book; I bought and started the Dover Pub. version of the actual text. Big mistake. That is such a dated translation offered so little extra compared to Ross' version (not to mention being being very hard to follow; even though I'm much more knowledgeable about the muslim world than your average American); that I gave it away to a Palestinian acquantance after reading the 1st 50 pages. Maybe the 2nd or 3rd time I haven't finished a book; ever; no matter how little I was enjoying it.Stick with this version unless you really feel the need to read Ibn's actual words try a non-Dover version if you do. That's a little tough anyway because most of the others only cover parts of the book. Even if you do try another version; I really recommend you read this one first to make the real work more meaningful and understandable unless you're an expert on the Islamic world.My only complaint is that it might have had a little more of Ibn's actual words instead of paraphrases and summaries; but I feel this is actually a plus after trying to read the real text. Ibn was a contemporary of Marco Polo who actually travelled further and did most of his travels as an insider in muslim societies (at least at the government level); so he got to know the society better and was accepted as a co-religionist. Like Polo; Ibn however; suffers from the same flaws in the actual text. There's a lot of "I went to x; the people follow religion y; the climate is z; I saw building a; the local produce is b...". Ross' version cuts out all the dry midaeval travelogue filler and makes all the information crystal clear.Do yourself a favor and try this book. Ross is an Islamic Studies professor who obviously knows his stuff has practiced a few thousand times in a classroom setting on presenting it in a way that makes for interesting and easy reading.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A great story (pinch of salt provided)...By Larry N. StoutIbn Battuta; like Marco Polo; was a great traveler who saw; described; and experienced far more than most people of his age (or any other). That in itself makes their respective travelogue-retrospectives worth reading. Unfortunately; neither of these prodigious wanderers had scruples about inclusion of gross exaggeration and invention in their writings: no one; quite obviously; had the means for checking their stories; and they well knew it! Fortunately; modern scholars have ways to distinguish what's almost certainly true; what's at least plausible; and what's patently false. Accordingly; this authoritatively annotated "rihla" of Ibn Battuta; providing a wealth of useful historical context; is must reading for anyone and everyone interested in world history.
