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SUMMIT, NJ - The Clan Currie Society, based in Summit, New Jersey has taken a lead role in bringing a new Scottish emigration exhibit to the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. The exhibit, entitled "Home and Away, Highland Departures and Returns" will have its debut at a special opening celebration in honor of National Tartan Day on Friday, April 5, 2002. The event, which will take place at 11:00 AM is open to the public and is free of charge. "We are absolutely delighted to be a part of this important exhibition prepared by the National Museums of Scotland" said Robert Currie, of the Clan Currie Society. and a Director of the Save Ellis Island! Foundation." This exhibit serves to honor our Scots ancestors who sacrificed so much to help forge our great nation". Although many Scots arrived during the colonial period of our history – helping to build the new nation - an additional half-million Scots came through Ellis Island between 1899 and 1931.
Partnering with Clan Currie in support of Home and Away is Vintage Hallmark of St. James's, exclusive importers of Ben Nevis Scotch Whisky. Said Currie, "We are thrilled to be working with Vintage Hallmark again after our very successful partnership as lead sponsors of the 2001 National Tartan Day ceremonies held in Washington, DC. Additional overseas support has been provided by VisitScotland, Highlands and Island Enterprise, and from The Friends of the National Museums. In addition to a welcome address by Robert Currie, the April 5 Opening Ceremonies will include remarks by The Hon. Mike Watson, Scottish Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Sport, Peter Lederer, OBE, Chairman of VisitScotland, and the Honorable Lord Wilson of Tillyorn, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the National Museums of Scotland. There will also be musical performances by Hugh Cheape from the curatorial staff of the National Museums of Scotland on Scottish smallpipes and Paul Jordon of the renowned Scottish Fiddle Orchestra. Home and Away: Highland Departures and Returns, is a touring exhibition organized by the National Museums of Scotland and the Highland Homecomings Project. It focuses on the many departures from the Scottish Highlands and Islands that have taken place over the last three centuries, and on the thousands of 'homecoming' journeys made by people of Scottish descent from across the world to their ancestral homeland.
The centerpiece of the exhibit is an emigrant's kist. A kist is a small trunk or traveling chest which emigrants often packed their few belongings to travel abroad. The Kist will include examples of the possessions which early 18th century emigrants may have taken abroad, including tools, cooking and sewing implements, as well as more personal items such Sunday school certificates, photographs and a bible. Display panels featuring contemporary and historical documentary material such as songs, poems and photographs give a unique insight into the lives of those who left or returned to the Highlands and Islands over the centuries. The exhibition has been developed by Museum of Scotland International, an innovative program of research, exhibitions and events aimed at furthering understanding of emigration and Scots overseas. Tartan Day is a national American celebration which recognizes the contributions of Scots and Scottish-Americans to the development of the United States. In 1998 the U.S. Senate passed a resolution recognizing 6 April as National Tartan Day in recognition of "the outstanding contribution of millions of Scots-Americans to our great nation." The date commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 which was an influence on the American Declaration of Independence. Almost half of the signatories on the Declaration of Independence were of Scottish descent, while three quarters of U.S. Presidents have been of Scottish ancestry.
"Home and Away" will remain on exhibit at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum through the end of June. The museum can be reached via ferry boats departing from Liberty State Park in Jersey City. For schedule and ticket information, contact the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Ferry at 201-435-9499 (NJ) or 212-269-5755 (NY). For further information on the Tartan Day ceremony, contact Clan Currie at 908-273-3509.
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